Abstract: The present research contains three parts: In Part Ⅰ, a driverquestionnaire was used to determine the interpretability of 80 trafficsigns in Beijing. The 85% correct interpretation rate was used as thereceptible standard. In Part Ⅱ, those traffic signs, which failed to reachthe receptible standard in Part Ⅰ, were examined with a long-termmemory test, also using the 85% correct recognization rate as thereceptible standard. These signs were examined with a short-termmemory-recognization test in Part Ⅲ. Then a correlation analysis wasmade with the results in Part Ⅱ and Part Ⅲ. The results showed: 1) 65 of the 80 traffic signs reached or exceeded the receptiblestandard; 2) The interpretability of the traffic signs depended on theirvisibility and simplicity. It also depended on the experience, knowledgeand attitude of the driver; 3) In the long-term and short-term memory tests, 14 of the 15 signs,which did not reach the receptible standard in Part Ⅰ, reached thereceptible standard of correct recognization; 4) The "END NO OVERTAKING" sign failed to reach the receptiblestandard in all tests. It was therefore recommended that this signshould not be used as a formal traffic sign; 5) The correct recognization rate and the correct reaction time inthe long-term and short-term memory tests were of the same effectwhen they were used as criteria to evaluate the traffic signs.

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