COMPREHENSIBILITY OF ROAD TRAFFIC SIGNS AMONG URBAN DRIVERS (CASE STUDY; SUNYANI MUNICIPALITY, GHANA)

Kwadwo Appiah Boateng, Harold Atobra-Acheampong, Nana Poku Agyeman, Emmanuel Adu Gyamfi

Abstract: Road traffic signs are the oldest and most commonly used devices for traffic control. The ultimate goal of road traffic signs is to control and regulate both human and vehicular traffic in a conducive user friendly env ironment; thereby maximizing road safety. This study investigated drivers’ comprehensibility of road signs and safety in the Sunyani Municipality , Ghana with respect to their personal characteristics such as age, educational background, mode of training an d training in road safety. A total of ten (10) symbolic regulatory/prohibitory signs, ten (10) warning signs and eight (8) informatory signs were investigated. Two hundred (200) questionnaires were prepared and distributed to drivers who constituted 40 private drivers, 60 mini-bus drivers, 20 bus drivers (VIP, Metro Mass Etc.) and 80 taxi drivers. The study generally showed that, drivers in the municipality have a satisfactory understanding of traffic signs since an average correct score of 82.53% was recorded. The study further establishes that the educational background, age and number of years driven do have significant influences on driver comprehensibility of road traffic signs.

Keywords: Road Traffic Signs, Traffic Safety, Comprehensibility, Driver Characteristics and Ghana

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15623/ijret.2016.0510001