Bad Road Sign Usability

Roads & highways are one of the best examples where usability really matters. The success of the interstate highway system lies in its consistency. In all 50 states, highway road signs look the same. Drivers don’t have to guess or interpret. They just use.

A good road sign in a bad place

Road signs have to be clear & concise. They also have to be in the right spot. This morning, I had a terrible experience trying to follow ill-placed, unclear road signs about a closed road-the road I take to get to work. The sign gave good information, but was 2 whole miles out of context.

It went something like this:

Dealing with consequences

After discovering the police barricade, drivers were forced to either turn around & go back where they came from, or turn down side streets without any “detour” signs. Luckily, there’s an app for that, and I was able to navigate around the problem spot.