U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
202-366-4000
Federal Highway Administration Research and Technology
Coordinating, Developing, and Delivering Highway Transportation Innovations
| REPORT |
| This report is an archived publication and may contain dated technical, contact, and link information |
|
| Publication Number: FHWA-HRT-14-069 Date: October 2014 |
Publication Number:
FHWA-HRT-14-069
Date: October 2014 |
PDF files can be viewed with the Acrobat® Reader®
Interchange navigation presents a range of challenges that are different from those associated with driving on continuous roads. For example, interchanges confront the driver with time-sensitive task demands (i.e., forced-paced tasks). More specifically, drivers at unfamiliar interchanges must read the available signage, observe pavement markings, and determine a path through the interchange before they reach the gore point. As an additional source of stress, driver errors at interchanges are often more difficult to correct since drivers transfer to a grade-separated freeway, highway, or roadway which provides limited access points for their return to the original roadway. Clear navigation signage is needed to guide drivers and reduce errors.
Recent Federal Highway Administration research examined challenges that drivers face while navigating complex interchanges, which was important for understanding these problems from the drivers’ perspective. The current project extended this line of research by conducting interviews with State engineers and other stakeholders about the practical challenges they encounter related to complex interchanges. These interviews provided information about how stakeholders identify problem interchanges, what types of problems occur, how they can address those problems, and how they deal with unique configurations that are not covered by existing design references. These findings were then used to identify research gaps, which were subsequently prioritized by a larger group of stakeholders. Obtaining this type of feedback is valuable because the stakeholders are the end-users of the findings that will emerge from future research projects. Thus, obtaining feedback directly from stakeholders is an important way to ensure that future research remains calibrated with the information needs of engineers and other practitioners.
Monique R. Evans
Director, Office of Safety
Research and Development
Notice
This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Transportation in the interest of information exchange. The U.S. Government assumes no liability for the use of the information contained in this document. This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation.
The U.S. Government does not endorse products or manufacturers. Trademarks or manufacturers’ names appear in this report only because they are considered essential to the objective of the document.
Quality Assurance Statement
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) provides high-quality information to serve Government, industry, and the public in a manner that promotes public understanding. Standards and policies are used to ensure and maximize the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of its information. FHWA periodically reviews quality issues and adjusts its programs and processes to ensure continuous quality improvement.
