ABSTRACT
Individual information carriers should meet basic ergonomic principles to be visible, clear and understandable for the road user. The steps in the information processing sequence take time, and for communicating properly and timely with the road user several requirements for information carriers can be derived from basic ergonomic principles. Older road users may experience specific problems in processing information in the driving environment. In road systems design it is important to take limitations and abilities of all road users into account. Relevant information for the driving task has to be detected first of all. Detection is defined by object conspicuity, depending on factors such as object size, contrast and location. In general, providing drivers with detailed written messages is not practical due to processing time and restricted sign sizes. A combination of word picture and distinctive representation of different destination categories may also speed up information processing.
