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Abstract
The effectiveness of two types of sign which appeal for witnesses to serious traffic accidents was investigated. One type (old sign) presents verbal information on a single board. The other type (new sign) presents a mixture of verbal and pictorial information in a sequence of three component signs. Data concerning the noticing, description and interpretation of these signs were collected from drivers and pedestrians by means of roadside interviews conducted after subjects had passed one or other type of sign.
The central finding was that the new sign was more effective than the old sign in communicating the witness appeal message to drivers, largely because it was much more likely to be noticed; whereas the old sign was more effective for pedestrians. Differences due to sex and age of respondents were found, as were effects due to familiarity with test road. These findings are discussed and recommendations made for the design of future witness appeal signs.