Research review of potential safety effects of electronic billboards on driver attention and distraction

008196322001Final reportPDFResearch PaperRoadside advertisingVisual mediaInformation display systemsDistractionHighway safetyLiterature reviewsVariable message signsChangeable Message SignsDriver distractionDriving safetyElectronic Billboards (EBBs)Tri-vision signsUnited States. Federal Highway AdministrationFarbry, J.Wochinger, K, Shafer, T.Owens, N.Nedzesky, A.Science Applications International CorporationNTL-SAFETY AND SECURITY-Human FactorsNTL-SAFETY AND SECURITY-Highway SafetyNTL-OPERATIONS AND TRAFFIC CONTROLS-OPERATIONS AND TRAFFIC CONTROLSNTL-LAWS AND REGULATIONS-Federal Standards and RulesNTL-LAWS AND REGULATIONS-State Laws and RegulationsFederal Highway AdministrationThis report is a research review of potential safety implications of electronic billboards (EBBs) on driving safety. The review covers the interval from a similar review published in 1980 to the present. The present review focuses on the safety aspects of EBBs and does not examine aesthetic issues. Included are a review of research on driver performance in the presence of EBBs and contacts with federal and state officials to describe state regulatory practices concerning EBBs. An account of tri-vision signs is a part of the state review. Knowledge gaps are identified based on the literature review and these gaps support the development of a set of research questions and related research findings. Research questions are divided into roadway characteristics such as curves, interchanges, and work zones; EBB characteristics such as exposure time, motion and legibility; and driver characteristics such as familiarity and age. Related research findings on the legibility of Changeable Message Signs (CMSs) are also included