Bilingual Variable Message Signs: A Study of Information Presentation and Driver Distraction

Research on static bilingual signs has confirmed increased reading times compared to their monolingual counterparts; however, there is little empirical research on bilingual Variable Message Signs (VMSs). The study reported here evaluates the effect of various bilingual VMS configurations on driver behaviour and safety. The aim of the study was to determine whether or not the visual distraction associated with bilingual VMSs of different configurations (length, complexity) impacted on driving performance. The results suggest that four-line bilingual VMSs comprising 2 lines of text in each language are read by both monolingual and bilingual drivers in a manner that more closely approximates a two-line monolingual sign. This being the case it is likely that the deployment of four-line bilingual signs on Welsh motorways is unlikely to result in a significant reduction in safety.