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REPORT
This report is an archived publication and may contain dated technical, contact, and link information
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Publication Number:  FHWA-HRT-13-048    Date:  October 2013
Publication Number: FHWA-HRT-13-048
Date: October 2013

 

Driver Expectations When Navigating Complex Interchanges

Appendix A. Task 4 Response Booklet

This appendix shows the response booklet filled out by participants in the task 4 focus groups.

                                                                                     1

 

 

Driver Expectations at Complex Interchanges
Focus Group Response Booklet

Interchange 1: Objective                                           2

Your objective is to get onto US-30 West.

 

 

Interchange 1: Critical Point 1                                  3

This photo shows the driving image for scenario 1 critical point 1. There is a four-lane single direction bridge deck with vehicles traveling on it. The sign above the left-land lane is labeled City Ctr with a down arrow. The next lane has a sign labeled Beaverton with a down arrow. The third lane has a sign labeled NW Ind. Area with a down arrow, and the right-hand lane has a sign labeled St. Helens with a down arrow. Above the two right-most lanes, there is also a sign labeled Exit 3.

Using the information provided in the signs, circle the picture that best shows what you think will happen to the roadway beyond this point.

This illustration shows a response option for scenario 1 critical point 1. There is a four-lane single direction highway. It splits at the top to the left and right, with two lanes in each direction.

This illustration shows a response option for scenario 1 critical point 1. There is a four-lane single direction highway. There is a right-hand one-lane exit at the top, and the remaining three lanes continue straight.

This illustration shows a response option for scenario 1 critical point 1. There is a three-lane single direction highway. There is a right-hand one lane exit followed by a second one. The remaining two lanes continue straight.

This illustration shows a response option for scenario 1 critical point 1. There is a four-lane single direction highway. There is a right-hand two-lane exit that curves to the right. The remaining two lanes continue straight.

This illustration shows a response option for scenario 1 critical point 1. There is a four-lane single direction highway that splits to the left and the right. The second-to-right lane is an option lane, where drivers can decide to drive to the left or right from that lane. The left splits into three lanes (which includes the option lane), and the right splits into two lanes (which includes the option lane).

 

Interchange 1: Critical Point 2                                  4

This photo shows guide signs associated with scenario 1 critical point 1. There are two green signs next to each other. The sign on the left has two down arrows labeled City Ctr.-Beaverton. Above that are labels for 405 South and 26 West. The sign on the right has two down arrows labeled N.W. Ind. Area-St. Helens. For the St. Helens arrow, two yellow signs indicate that lane is an exit only lane. The top of the sign list 30 West as a destination. Above that, there is a sign that indicates it is Exit 3.

Circle the number of the lane that you would choose to go to US-30 West.

This illustration shows the lane numbers for lane choice decisions in scenario 1 critical point 2. There are five lanes numbered from left to right. Lanes 1 through 3 split to the left, and lanes 4 and 5 split to the right. Lanes 3 and 4 split from the same option lane. Drivers can stay in one lane and decide at the split whether to drive left or right.

Interchange 1: Critical Point 3                                  5

 

This photo shows a driving image for scenario 1 critical point 3. There is a four-lane single direction highway. There are four signs shown. On the left-most sign, the top half is green and labeled Nicolai St. West, and the bottom half is yellow with a down arrow and is labeled Exit Only 1/2 mile. The second sign is green and has two down arrows. The top of the sign has a label for 30 West. Below it and above the arrows there is a label for St. Helens. The third sign is green with two down arrows. The right down arrow is surrounded by a yellow box that is labeled as an exit only lane. Above both arrows, there is a label for Vaughn St. The fourth sign is a small blue sign with the letter H to indicate hospital.

Please circle your response.

Does US-30 West continue over the bridge or under the bridge?

                   Over the bridge                                               Under the bridge

 

Interchange 2: Objective                                           6

You are driving on 30 West and your objective is to reach the City Center.

 

 

Interchange 2: Critical Point 1                                  7

This photo shows the driving image for scenario 2 critical point 1. There is a three-lane single direction highway with cars traveling on it. There are three green signs: one above each of the lanes. The sign on the left has a down arrow and is labeled Beaverton Salem. The middle sign has a down arrow and is labeled City Center Seattle. The sign on the right is green on the top half and is labeled Convention Ctr. Rose Quarter. The bottom half is yellow with a down arrow and is labeled Exit Only.

 

Please circle your response.
One of the signs says both "City Center" and "Seattle". Choose the answer below that best describes how you interpret this:

  1. The same exit allows you to go both to "City Center" and "Seattle."
  2. The middle lane allows you to go to both "City Center" and "Seattle."

Interchange 2: Critical Point 2                                 8

This photo shows a guide sign associated with scenario 2 critical point 2. It depicts a four-lane single direction highway that splits to the left and right with two lanes each; the middle lane is an option lane. The left split is labeled 5 South Salem, and the right split is labeled 5 North Seattle.

Which direction would you go to reach City Center? Please circle your response below.

               South               North

Interchange 2: Critical Point 3                                 9

This photo shows a driving image for scenario 3 critical point 3. There is a three-lane single direction highway with cars traveling on it. There are two green signs: the one on the left spans the left lane and the left half of the middle lane, and the sign on the right spans the right half of the middle lane and the right lane. The sign on the left shows an arrow curving to the left and is labeled 5 South Salem. The sign on the right shows an arrow curving to the right and is labeled 5 North Seattle.

Interchange 2: Critical Point 4                                 10

This photo shows a driving image for scenario 2 critical point 4. There is a three-lane single direction highway with vehicles traveling on it. The lanes are shown splitting to the left and right. The middle lane is acting as an option lane, where drivers can choose to drive to the left or to the right. There are two lanes to the left and two lanes to the right. There is a green sign above each of the four lanes. The leftmost sign has a down arrow and is labeled 5 South Beaverton Salem. The next sign also has a down arrow. The top half of the sign is brown and is labeled OMSI. The bottom half is green and is labeled City Center. The third sign has a down arrow and is labeled 5 North 30 Seattle. Finally, the right-most sign has a down arrow. The top part of the sign is green and is labeled Convention Ctr. Rose Quarter. The bottom part is yellow and is labeled as an exit only lane.

How well did the guide signs that you previously encountered prepare you for the following aspects of the freeway lane split (please mark one option per row)?

 

Adequately Prepared

Not Prepared Enough

That a split was coming at all

 

 

That a split was coming at that time

 

 

That you knew which lane to be in

 

 

That the center lane could go in both directions

 

 

That you knew which direction to go

 

 

Interchange 3: Objective                                 11

Your objective is to get onto Interstate 5 South.

This illustration shows a map of scenario 3 roadways and maneuver. There is a solid red line that shows the route driven on the video. The line continues as a dashed line toward the destination 5 South, which is circled.
[Editor's Note: ©2011 Google®; map annotations provded  by Battelle
(see "Acknowledgements")]

Interchange 3: Critical Point 1                                 12

This photo shows a driving image for scenario 3 critical point 1. There is a four-lane single direction freeway with vehicles traveling on it. There are three signs spanning over the four lanes. The sign on the left is directly over the left-most lane. The top half is green and is labeled 30 East The Dalles. The bottom half is yellow with a down arrow and is labeled Exit Only. The middle sign is green and spans over the two middle lanes. There are two down arrows, and it is labeled 5 North Seattle. The right-most sign is directly over the right-hand lane. The top part is blue and is labeled Hospital. The middle part is green and is labeled Kerby Ave. The bottom part is yellow with a down arrow and is labeled Exit Only.

Please circle the number for your lane choice.

Knowing that you have to exit soon, which lane would you feel most comfortable in and why?

This illustration shows the lane numbers provided in the response booklet for scenario 3 critical point 1. There are four lanes numbered 1 through 4 from left to right.


Why?

______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

Interchange 3: Critical Point 2                                 13

This photo shows the driving image for scenario 3 critical point 2. There is a four-lane single direction freeway with vehicles traveling on it. Two green signs are seen in the distance mounted to either side of the freeway.

This photo shows a guide sign associated with scenario 3 critical point 2. It is green and labeled 85 5 South The Dalles Next Left.

Both signs say
the same thing

 

Did anything surprise you about the required maneuver? If so, what?

_________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

 

Questionnaire                                                           14

Thank you for your participation in the focus group session. Please take a few minutes to answer the questions provided on the next couple of pages.

  1. Age: ____________
  2. Gender (circle one):                      Male                       Female
  3. How many years have you been a licensed driver? ____________
  4. How many years have you lived in an urban area? ____________
  5. What is the make and model of the vehicle that you drive most regularly?
    Make: ___________________                            Model: ___________________
  6. How many hours do you drive per week (on average)? __________________
  7. How frequently do you drive through major interchanges (like those seen today)?
    1. Never
    2. About once per year
    3. About once per month
    4. Weekly
    5. Daily
    6. Multiple times per day

Questionnaire (Continued)                                      15

     8. Have you ever lived in Portland, Oregon?    Yes                        No

          If yes, when, and for how long?
          _______________________________________________________________________

     9. Have you ever been any type of professional driver (i.e., truck driver, delivery driver, etc)?

                             Yes                                                     No

          If yes, please briefly describe your position.
          _______________________________________________________________________
          _______________________________________________________________________

     10. How familiar were you with each of the interchanges before you saw them today?

Interchange 1

Not at all

Seemed
familiar

Knew it
well

This photo shows a driving image for scenario 1 critical point 3. There is a four-lane single direction highway. There are four signs shown. On the left-most sign, the top half is green and labeled Nicolai St. West, and the bottom half is yellow with a down arrow and is labeled Exit Only 1/2 mile. The second sign is green and has two down arrows. The top of the sign has a label for 30 West. Below it and above the arrows there is a label for St. Helens. The third sign is green with two down arrows. The right down arrow is surrounded by a yellow box that is labeled as an exit only lane. Above both arrows, there is a label for Vaughn St. The fourth sign is a small blue sign with the letter H to indicate hospital.

Interchange 2

Not at all

Seemed
familiar

Knew it
well

This photo shows a driving image for scenario 3 critical point 1. There is a four-lane single direction freeway with vehicles traveling on it. There are three signs spanning over the four lanes. The sign on the left is directly over the left-most lane. The top half is green and is labeled 30 East The Dalles. The bottom half is yellow with a down arrow and is labeled Exit Only. The middle sign is green and spans over the two middle lanes. There are two down arrows, and it is labeled 5 North Seattle. The right-most sign is directly over the right-hand lane. The top part is blue and is labeled Hospital. The middle part is green and is labeled Kerby Ave. The bottom part is yellow with a down arrow and is labeled Exit Only.

Interchange 3

Not at all

Seemed
familiar

Knew it
well

This photo shows a guide sign associated with scenario 2 critical point 2. It depicts a four-lane single direction highway that splits to the left and right with two lanes each; the middle lane is an option lane. The left split is labeled 5 South Salem, and the right split is labeled 5 North Seattle.

 

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