Human Factors Guidelines (HFG) Database

Road designers can benefit enormously from the information in Human Factors Guidelines for Road Systems (NCHRP Report 600). Although the report can be difficult to navigate due to its length, it is an invaluable resource for roadway designers who want to use knowledge of the behavioral, psychological, and cognitive tendencies of multiple user types to plan and design facilities that provide safe mobility opportunities for everyone. The Human Factors Guidelines (HFG) database simplifies material in NCHRP Report 600 by providing condensed versions of its encyclopedia-style entries. Each condensed entry links to a PDF of the original entry (click on the page title to access it). Visitors have two options for exploring the database:

Search the HFG Database
Slight Distance

5.2 Key Components of Sight Distance

5.4 Determining Stopping Sight Distance

5.6 Determining Intersection Sight Distance

5.8 Determining When to Us Decision Sight Distance

5.10 Determining Passing Sight Distance

5.12 Influence of Speed on Sight Distance

Horizontal Curves

6.2 Task Analysis of Curve Driving

6.4 Influence of Perceptual Factors on Curve Driving

6.6 Speed Selection on Horizontal Curves

6.8 Countermeasures for Improving Steering and Vehicle Control Through Curves

6.10 Countermeasures to Improve Pavement Delineation

6.12 Signs on Horizontal Curves

Vertical Grades

7.2 Design Considerations for Turnouts and Grades

7.4 Geometric and Signing Consideration to Support the Effective Use of Truck Escape Ramps

7.6 Preview Sight Distance and Grade Perception at Vertical Curves

Tangent Sections

 8.2 Task Analysis of Lane Changes on Tangent Sections

8.4 Overview of Driver Alertness on Long Tangent Sections

Transition Zones

9.2 Perceptual and Physical Elements to Support Rural-Urban Transitions

Non-Signalized Intersections

10.2 Acceptable Gap Distance

10.4 Factors Affecting Acceptable Gap Distances

10.6 Left-Turn Lanes at Non-Signalized Intersections

10.8 Sight Distance at Left-Skewed Intersections

10.10 Sight Distance at Right-Skewed Intersections

Signalized Intersections

11.2 Engineering Countermeasures to Reduce Red Light Running

11.4 Restricting Right Turns on Red to Address Pedestrian Safety

11.8 Countermeasures for Improving Accessibility for Vision-Impaired Pedestrians at Signalized Intersections

Interchanges

12.2 Task Analysis of Driver Merging Behavior at Freeway Entrance Ramps

12.4 Reducing Wrong-Way Entries onto Freeway Exit Ramps

12.6 Driver Expectations at Freeway Lane Drops and Lane Reductions

12.8 Driver Information Needs at Complex Interchanges

12.10 Arrow-Per-Lane Sign Design to Support Driver Navigation

12.12 Driver Behavioral Trends Based on Exit Ramp Geometry

Construction and Work Zones
13.2 Overview of Work Zone Crashes
13.8 Changeable Message Signs
13.10 Sign Legibility
13.12 Determining Work Zone Speed Limits
Rail Crossings

14.2 Task Analysis of Rail-Highway Grade Crossings

14.4 Driver Information Needs at Passive Rail-Highway Grade Crossings

14.10 Countermeasures to Reduce Gate Rushing at Crossings with Two-Quadrant Gates

14.12 Human Factors Considerations in Traffic Control Device Selection at Rail-Highway Grade Crossings

Urban Environments

15.2 Methods to Increase Driver Yielding at Uncontrolled Crosswalks

15.4 Methods to Increase Compliance at Uncontrolled Crosswalks

15.6 Methods to Reduce Driver Speeds in School Zones

15.8 Signage and Markings for High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lanes

15.10 Sight Distance Considerations for Urban Bus Stop Locations

Rural Environments

16.2 Passing Lanes

16.4 Countermeasures for Pavement and Shoulder Drop-Offs

16.6 Rumble Strips

16.8 Design Consistency in Rural Driving

Speed

17.2 Behavioral Framework for Speeding

17.4 Speed Perception and Driving Speed

17.6 Effects of Roadway Factors on Speed

17.8 Effects of Posted Speed Limits on Speed Decisions

17.10 Speeding Countermeasures- Setting Appropriate Speed Limits

17.12 Speeding Countermeasures- Communicating Appropriate Speed Limits

17.14 Speeding Countermeasures: Using Roadway Design and Traffic Control Elements to Address Speeding Problems

Signing

18.2 General Principles for Sign Legends

18.4 Sign Design to Improve Legibility

18.6 Conspicuity of Diamond Warning Signs Under Nighttime Conditions

18.8 Driver Comprehension of Signs

18.10 Complexity of Sign Information

Markings

20.2 Visibility of Lane Markings

20.4 Effectiveness of Symbolic Markings

20.6 Markings for Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety

20.8 Post-Mounted Delineators

20.10 Markings for Roundabouts

Lighting

21.2 Countermeasures for Mitigating Headlamp Glare

21.4 Nighttime Driving

21.6 Daytime Lighting Requirements for Tunnel Entrance Lighting

21.8 Countermeasures for Improving Pedestrian Conspicuity at Crosswalks

21.10 Characteristics of Lights That Enhance Pedestrian Visibility

21.12 Characteristics of Effective Lighting at Intersections

Bicyclists

28.2 Task Analysis of Pedestrian Crossing in a Multiple Threat Scenario

28.4 Countermeasures to Reduce Pedestrian Exposure to Vehicles at Crossings

28.6 Speed-Calming Countermeasures at Crosswalks

28.8 Improving Pedestrian Visibility and Conspicuity at Crosswalks

28.10 Selecting Beacons for Improving Pedestrian Conspicuity at Crosswalks

28.12 Influence of the Build Environment on Pedestrian Crossing Safety

28.14 Design Challenges for Older Pedestrians

28.16 Pedestrian Rail Crossing Safety

Roundabouts

30.2 Reducing Vehicle Speeds Approaching Roundabouts

30.4 Increasing Driver Yielding Rates at Roundabouts

30.6 Guide Signing at Roundabouts

30.8 Accommodations for Bicyclists at Roundabouts

30.10 Countermeasures for Improving Accessibility for Vision-Impaired Pedestrians at Roundabouts

30.12 Roundabout Lighting

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CONTACT:

Chris VanDyke

Research Scientist | Program Manager

chrisvandyke@uky.edu