Studies from Mississippi State University in the Area of Risk Management Reported (Work zone sign design for increased driver compliance and worker…

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Studies from Mississippi State University in the Area of Risk Management Reported (Work zone sign design for increased driver compliance and worker safety)

By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Weekly News -- Investigators publish new report on Risk Management. According to news reporting originating from Mississippi State, Mississippi, by VerticalNews correspondents, research stated, "Many studies have investigated the effect of dynamic message signs (DMS) on drivers' speed reduction and compliance in work zones, yet only a few studies have examined the design of sign content of DMS. The purpose of this study was to develop design standards for DMS to improve driver compliance and worker safety."

Financial support for this research came from CDC/NIOSH.

Our news editors obtained a quote from the research from Mississippi State University, "This study investigated the impact of sign content, frame refresh rate, and sign placement on driver speed reduction, compliance, and eye movements. A total of 44 participants were recruited for this study. Each participant completed 12 simulated driving tasks in a high-fidelity driving simulator. A small-scale field study was also conducted to test the effect of DMS on vehicle speed in a highway work zone. Results showed sign content and placement had no impact on speed reduction and compliance. However, sign frame refresh rate was found to have a significant effect on drivers' initial speed and speed reduction. Participants had longer fixation duration on DMS when worker presence was mentioned in the sign content."

According to the news editors, the research concluded: "Results of the field study suggested that the DMS is most effective at night."

For more information on this research see: Work zone sign design for increased driver compliance and worker safety. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 2017;106():67-75. Accident Analysis and Prevention can be contacted at: Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd, The Boulevard, Langford Lane, Kidlington, Oxford OX5 1GB, England. (Elsevier - www.elsevier.com; Accident Analysis and Prevention - www.journals.elsevier.com/accident-analysis-and-prevention/)

The news editors report that additional information may be obtained by contacting M.M. Rahman, Mississippi State University, Dept. of Ind & Syst Engn, Mississippi State, MS 39762, United States. Additional authors for this research include L. Strawderman, T. Garrison, D. Eakin and C.C. Williams.

The direct object identifier (DOI) for that additional information is: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2017.05.023. This DOI is a link to an online electronic document that is either free or for purchase, and can be your direct source for a journal article and its citation.

Keywords for this news article include: Mississippi State, Mississippi, United States, North and Central America, Risk Management, Mississippi State University.