This thesis documents Phase III of a research program undertaken by the Virginia Transportation Research Council and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute in cooperation with the 3M Company and the Virginia Department of Transportation for the evaluation of visual performance of retroreflective signs of various color combinations. Phase I was an off-road field experiment conducted to determine the best sign color combination, letter stroke width, and letter size for the emergency sign. Based upon the results of Phase I, three color combinations were chosen for testing (black on coral, black on light blue, and yellow on purple) against a baseline color combination of black on orange.Phase II was conducted using an instrumented vehicle through a construction zone-related detour. Questionnaire data were also obtained. The independent variables of interest were sign color combination, age, and visibility condition. The findings of Phase II indicated that use of a color combination other than the traditional black on orange sign would improve driver performance and safety when used for trailblazing during critical incidents, especially when the incident route overlaps a work zone detour. A serious limitation of Phases I and II is that the use of fluorescent colors was not evaluated. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the use of fluorescent colors on signs improves their conspicuity. The purpose of Phase III was to evaluate fluorescent sign color combinations for incident management trailblazing purposes. This study consisted of an on-road investigation using an instrumented vehicle over a 12.2-mile route in urban and rural areas of Montgomery County, Virginia. The following conclusions were made:*A non-fluorescent yellow on non-fluorescent purple sign is least preferred by both older and younger drivers when compared to the other sign color combinations employed in this study.*Both younger and older drivers have a preference for a black on fluorescent yellow-green sign.* Fewer late braking maneuvers and fewer turn errors were recorded during daytime conditions than during nighttime conditions. *Older drivers tended to register more late braking maneuvers than did younger drivers. / Master of Science

This document represents efforts to design and evaluate a new sign design for emergency route trailblazing in a two-part series. Study 1 was an off-road field experiment conducted to determine the best color combination and letter design for the emergency sign. Based upon Study 1 results, black on coral, black on light blue, and yellow on purple signs were chosen for further testing against a baseline black on orange sign, all with 125-mm, D series letters. Study 2 was an on-road field study of conspicuity, conducted using an instrumented vehicle through a construction zone-related detour, and a survey questionnaire. The findings indicated that use of a color combination other than traditional black on orange will improve driver performance and safety when used for trailblazing during critical incidents. Based on the conclusions and other anecdotal evidence, the following recommendations were made: 1) Do not use black on orange signs for trailblazing around a critical incident if an existing detour/construction zone is in place; 2) Do not use a black on coral sign for trailblazing around a critical incident; 3) A light blue on black sign is recommended due to generally favorable subjective ratings and for minimization of turn errors in an overlapping detour; however, the black on light blue sign may resemble regulatory signs when headlights reflect onto it; and 4) If reject black on light blue signs based on (3), consider using yellow on purple signs, which resulted in fewer turn errors than black on orange and received generally favorable ratings. / Master of Science