| Title | Motorist compliance with standard traffic control devices. |
|---|---|
| Record ID | 47073 |
| Personal Name Creator |
Pietrucha, Martin T.; Opiela, Kenneth S.; Knoblauch, Richard L.; Crigler, Kristy L. |
| Corporate Creator | Center for Applied Research; United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration. Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center |
| Publisher | United States. Federal Highway Administration |
| Publication Date | 19890400 |
| Language | English |
| Abstract | This report describes a study of motorist compliance with standard traffic control devices. The research included a comprehensive review of past studies, contacts with traffic, law enforcement, and department of motor vehicles personnel, and an a?sessment of the viability of other information sources for identifying and quantifying motorist noncompliance. It was concluded that while there is considerable concern about motorist noncompliance, little data existed to determine the frequency of occurrence or consequences of the problem. To determine the reasons for noncompliance, motorists were interviewed. The interviews included both typical motorists and those having high violation rates. It was found that compliance is generally a function of perceived reasonableness of the traffic controls. Field studies to observe motorist behavior were conducted to establish the extent of noncompliance. Six noncompliance problems were selected and data were gathered at over 900 sites in four States. The results indicate that, ·although noncompliance is not uncommon (e.g., not making a full stop at a STOP sign), the occurrence of conflicts resulting from the noncompliance was insignificant. Potential countermeasures for increasing compliance were identified with the assistance of a panel of highway safety experts. Before/after field studies were conducted to evaluate several of the potential countermeasures that involved engineering changes. Limited changes in compliance were observed. |
| Rosap ID | dot:25685 |
| Rosap URL | https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/25685 |
| TRT Terms | Traffic control devices; Human factors; Behavior; Compliance; Driver education; Traffic violations; Countermeasures; Field tests |
| General Subjects | Automobile drivers--Attitudes; Traffic violations; Traffic signs and signals; Compliance |
| Classification | NTL - OPERATIONS AND TRAFFIC CONTROLS - Traffic Control Devices; NTL - SAFETY AND SECURITY - Highway Safety; NTL - SAFETY AND SECURITY - Human Factors |
| Geographical Coverage |
United States |
| Contract Number | DTFH61-86-C-00026 |
| Report Number | FHWA-RD-89-103 |
| Resource type | Manuscript |
| URL | https://ntlrepository.blob.core.windows.net/lib/47000/47000/47073/FHWA-RD-89-103_Motorist_compliance_with_standard_traffic_control_devices.pdf |
| Format | |
| Database | NTL Digital Repository |