171724 20260603114406.0 doi 10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1775997 sideral 149525 ART-2026-149525 eng Hernando, Ana Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0003-3793-669X Informing drivers about events and their location in Variable Message Signs: effects of words versus pictograms 2026 With advancing road technologies and growing traffic complexity, a major challenge is to inform drivers through clear and concise messages. This study examines how drivers understand Variable Message Signs indicating the location of an event relative to a city. Four message designs were tested, resulting from two crossed factors: the event category was informed by either a word or a pictogram, and the location of the event was indicated by either a word or an arrow. Twenty-four drivers were asked to identify the message as quickly and accurately as possible. Compared to text: (1) for the event, pictograms led to faster (Mpictogram = 6112 ms; Mtext = 6338 ms) and more accurate (Rpictogram = 1.00; Rtext = 0.99) responses; (2) for the location, the arrow resulted in worse accuracy (Rarrow = 0.98; Rtext = 0.99) and response time (Marrow = 6261 ms; Mtext = 6189 ms). Text-pictogram combinations may constitute a functional strategy toward the harmonization and internationalization of road signage, although the effectiveness of specific combinations likely depends on how clearly each element conveys its meaning. Access copy available to the general public Unrestricted info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/DGA/S62-23D info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MICINN/PID2019-106562GB-I00 info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/UZ/270237 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess by https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.es info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion Tejero, Pilar Roca, Javier Lucas-Alba, Antonio Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0002-6596-2978 4009 620 Universidad de Zaragoza Dpto. Psicología y Sociología Área Metod.Ciencias Comportam. 4009 730 Universidad de Zaragoza Dpto. Psicología y Sociología Área Psicología Básica 17 (2026), [10 pp.] Front. psychol. Frontiers in Psychology 1664-1078 3784848 http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/171724/files/texto_completo.pdf Versión publicada 2160387 http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/171724/files/texto_completo.jpg?subformat=icon icon Versión publicada oai:zaguan.unizar.es:171724 articulos driver 2026-06-03-11:04:05 ARTICLE