Organising of traffic environments into zones can efficiently simplify the needs for signs and regulations and both bring down road costs and contribute to less complex tasks for the road users. E.g can the motorway be regarded as a zone. In just one sign most needed information for this type of road on rules and regulations, access for different vehicle categories, speed-limits etc. is represented. Other examples of zones with simplified signing are pedestrian streets, "Woonerfs" and similar grouping of traffic environments. In a comprehensive study among the Nordic countries the preconditions for extended use of zones was investigated. 15-20 new areas for zones were identified and discussed. Also grouping of zones based on other criteria than environmental factors, e.g road users' experience of risk, comfort etc. was tested with panels of different road users. The road users' clear recognition of the function of the traffic or activities in the target area was found to be a important contributor to obtain well functioning zones. Also the choice of symbols when signing for zones are of importance. (A) The paper consists of this abstract.
Samenvatting