Atombo Charles, Akple Maxwell Selase, Dumenya Arnold, Adzimahe Paul
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ho Technical University, Ho, Ghana.
PLoS One. 2025 May 14;20(5):e0323386. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0323386. eCollection 2025.
Dashboard indicator light symbols convey information about vehicles status and functioning, but action taken to address issues associated with these symbols depend on drivers' familiarity and comprehension of the symbols as well as demographic factors. Thus, this study assesses drivers' familiarity and comprehension of dashboard indicator light symbols and further examines the impact of driver background factors and comprehension level of the symbols on drivers' preventive maintenance compliance.
Through a survey involving 2530 drivers, familiarity and comprehension of 25 dashboard indicator symbols used on most vehicles were collected. Descriptive analysis and Generalised Ordered Logistic Regression were used to analyse the data.
Indicator light symbols that recorded a higher percentage of familiarity and were deemed appropriate were comprehended by most drivers. Symbols with pictorial signs were better understood. Overall, there were substantial significant differences among symbols in drivers' familiarity and comprehension. Regression analysis indicates that the majority of dashboard indicators with low comprehension had a positively significant relationship, while symbols with better understanding recorded a negative relationship with driver's preventive maintenance compliance. However, symbols such as tyre pressure, traction, 4*4 active, and power steering warning lights, which were poorly comprehended, showed a negative significant association with preventive maintenance compliance.
The complex relationship between comprehension and drivers' preventive maintenance compliance underscores the importance of including driver education programs and symbols standardisation to improve comprehension and preventive maintenance compliance, promoting road safety and vehicle reliability.
仪表盘指示灯符号传达有关车辆状态和功能的信息，但针对与这些符号相关问题所采取的行动取决于驾驶员对符号的熟悉程度和理解能力以及人口统计学因素。因此，本研究评估驾驶员对仪表盘指示灯符号的熟悉程度和理解能力，并进一步考察驾驶员背景因素和对符号的理解水平对驾驶员预防性维护依从性的影响。
通过对2530名驾驶员进行调查，收集他们对大多数车辆上使用的25个仪表盘指示符号的熟悉程度和理解情况。采用描述性分析和广义有序逻辑回归对数据进行分析。
大多数驾驶员能够理解熟悉程度较高且被认为合适的指示灯符号。带有图形标志的符号更容易理解。总体而言，各符号在驾驶员的熟悉程度和理解能力方面存在显著差异。回归分析表明，大多数理解程度较低的仪表盘指示灯与预防性维护依从性呈正相关，而理解较好的符号与驾驶员预防性维护依从性呈负相关。然而，诸如轮胎压力、牵引力、4*4启动和动力转向警告灯等理解较差的符号与预防性维护依从性呈负相关。
理解能力与驾驶员预防性维护依从性之间的复杂关系凸显了开展驾驶员教育项目和符号标准化的重要性，以提高理解能力和预防性维护依从性，促进道路安全和车辆可靠性。
