The Potential of the Stop Sign to Unravel the Mystery Named St. Andrew

Abstract

A computer based choice reaction time task was used to investigate the knowledge and the association strength of n=57 participants with regard to the St. Andrew’s cross . Within three conditions, it was compared to the stop sign and a combination sign (stop sign + St. Andrew’s cross) as second and third target sign. Participants had to react as fast and correctly as possible to three series of traffic signs that were presented to them on a computer screen. In each of three conditions, participants showed significantly more incorrect judgments with regard to the meaning of the St. Andrew’s cross compared to the stop sign as well as the combination sign. With regard to the choice reaction time, participants reacted significantly slower to the St Andrews cross compared to the stop sign and the combination sign in the second and third condition. The retrieval of the correct schemata in case of the St. Andrew’s cross appeared to be more difficult than in the case of the stop sign and the combination sign. These results support the use of the stop sign at passive railway level crossings in addition to the St. Andrew’s cross .