Traffic signs, visibility and recognition.

Sometimes it seems that traffic signs are reproducing themselves. Nevertheless the question remains how drivers can cope with some 50 traffic signs along a kilometre of a road. Do they fail to detect? Or do they fixate them all and does this produce additional stress? This field test shows that drivers fixate traffic signs, which are almost relevant for the actual driving situation. Eye movement recording shows foveal information processing and therefore only one part of drivers' perception of traffic signs can be analysed. But the scanning strategy indicates that peripheral information is pre- or subconsciously processed. (A)