Uniform Traffic Controls and Warning Messages for Portable Changeable Message Signs

The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices indicates that “Portable Changeable Message Signs (FCMS) are traffic control devices with the flexibility to display a variety of messages to fit the needs of road and street authorities.” The purpose of this study was to develop and test word and symbol traffic control and hazard warning messages for use on PCMS’S. The messages were designed for the standard PCMS with three lines of eight characters each. The character is composed of 35 dots (7 high by 5 wide). For symbols, a sign with a matrix of dots 40 high by 96 wide was used. The testing was also limited to single-sign, non-sequential messages.