1. SAFEWAY2SCHOOL Project FP7-233967
School Bus
(Stop) Sign
International Institute for
Information Design (IIID),
Stefan Egger
Final Event
13 June, 2012
Örnkoldsvik, Sweden

2. Surrounding traffic information and warning
Goal: In short
International Institute for Information Design
To research and design information
• to effectively warn road users on the fact
that children are on the road,
• taking into account today’s demanding traffic
situation
13 June, 2012 Final Event Örnkoldsvik, Sweden 2

3. Surrounding traffic information and warning
Motive:
International Institute for Information Design
The graphical representation of the sign as currently proposed by
UNECE ITC, based on sign “A, 13 - Children” is – along with all
other signs of the Convention on Road Signs and Signals, Annex 1
– dating back to a time (1968 and way before), where traffic was
less demanding:
• There were far less vehicles,
• which were only capable of low speeds, moving
• on less roads allowing only for much lower velocities than today.
• Traffic was by far less international.
• Information density provided on roads was by no means as
high as today.
13 June, 2012 Final Event Örnkoldsvik, Sweden 3

4. Surrounding traffic information and warning
Solution: To meet the requirements of the
demanding traffic situation of today,
International Institute for Information Design
the visual quality of the sign is raised by a method developed by
IIID in EU FP6 research project SOMS/In-Safety -
• allowing a driver to discriminate (“read”) and understand the
sign from a much greater distance than currently possible
with sign(s) in use
• providing a driver with means to react at greater distance
(earlier) to the signs message, and adjust the driving mode
accordingly (eg. Slow down and watch out, break etc.)
13 June, 2012 Final Event Örnkoldsvik, Sweden 4

5. Methodology, simplified
Collecting, reviewing
& evaluating
Signs, pictograms
International Institute for Information Design
and related information
Processing for
enhanced visual quality
1 MoA
*
* See: From optometry to road saftey – A design process to enhance visual informatio for safety critical situations
http://www.iiid.net/Safeway2SchoolReport.aspx
13 June, 2012 Final Event Örnkoldsvik, Sweden 5

6. 1 Collect, review and evaluate
92 Signs/pictograms Related standards and
from 37 countries regulations
International Institute for Information Design
Evaluation of examples
for most suitable to be
reworked for
• improved visual quality
• updating international
regulations Example found
in Portugal
13 June, 2012 Final Event Örnkoldsvik, Sweden 6

7. 2 Enhancing visual quality
Processing for enhanced visual quality,
International Institute for Information Design
adhering to MoA (Minute-of-Arc)
design method for:
ROAD USE
• long range visibility (plates/signs) for 1 MoA
being seen earlier (= more time for drivers
to react) = safety improvement
• being visible despite of glare
• low resolution use for
LED signs (VMS)
SW2S School
OTHER Bus (Stop) sign
• small scale visbility for
small print/screen use
(maps/in-car navigation)
13 June, 2012 Final Event Örnkoldsvik, Sweden 7

8. 2 Enhancing visual quality cont.
Enhanced symbol (pictogram) and signs
International Institute for Information Design
to be commonly used for faster
recognition VMS
Road signs
ROAD USE
• long range visibility
(plates/signs) for being
seen earlier
• being visible despite of glare
• low resolution use for
LED signs (VMS)
OTHER USE
• small scale visbility for
small print/screen use
(maps/in-car navigation)
13 June, 2012 Final Event Örnkoldsvik, Sweden 8

9. Visual discriminability performance
Simulator Test
(University Stuttgart/Fraunhofer Institute):
Comparison of long distance visibility performance of 4 signs
International Institute for Information Design
(pictograms) – left to right.:
1st: SW2S & Sweden
2nd: Austria
3rd: UNECE ITC (international recommendation of the UN on how
the appearance of the sign should look like)
13 June, 2012 Final Event Örnkoldsvik, Sweden 9

10. Standardisation
Due to lowest performance of UNECE ITC example,
proposal to substitute the sign/symbol in the
Consolidated resolution on Road Traffic (R.E.1). Annex 1,
International Institute for Information Design
Recommendation 2.2. (United Nations, Economic Commission for
Europe, Inland Transport Committee, 1998),
with the sign developed in SW2S
13 June, 2012 Final Event Örnkoldsvik, Sweden 10

11. More in:
SW2S Deliverable D5.5 “Surounding traffic info and
warning visual and audio signs”
Available on
International Institute for Information Design
http://www.iiid.net/Safeway2SchoolReport.aspx
More examples of enhanced visual
information for the road environment to
be found on
http://www.iiid.net/SOMS/Project Report.aspx
(Traffic signs and Typeface „Tern“ for the
Trans- European Road Network, developed
in SOMS/InSafety, EU FP6 Research Projekt
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