The readability of road signs was studied and in particular the LED format. The purpose was to study the effect of color combination, font size and light conditions on readability. The conclusive results demonstrate that all the variables studied are important for readability. The results show that the color combination of the LED-sign affects its readability. Signs with white text on blue, brown or green background could be read correctly at a greater distance than the signs with black text on white or orange background. The font size is also important for the readability and every increase in font size produces a significant difference in the distance that the sign can be read. The sign with the largest font size (300 mm) was read correctly from the longest distance. The signs were read at greater distances in daylight than in darkness. The readability of the sign with the smallest font size 200 mm does not change significantly during the daylight compared to darkness conditions. 101 students participated in the study, 32 men and 69 women. A statistical analysis was carried out to study how readability distances varied as a result of the combination of colors, font size and light conditions. It should be added that participants stood still during the trial when they scanned/read the signs and they had free sight to the LED-sign. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting