Silver Moor Consulting
  • Home
  • About
  • Consultancy
    • Barrier-based auditing
    • Task design
    • Training & competence
    • Procedures & documents
    • Accident & incident investigation
    • Decision support tools
    • Performance dashboards
    • Risk management >
      • Bowtie risk assessment
    • Operational readiness
    • Safety climate surveys
  • Training
    • Reducing maintenance error
    • Accident investigation training >
      • Accident investigator training
      • Senior accident investigator
      • Root cause analysis
      • On-Train Data Recorder (OTDR) analysis
    • Writing safety critical instructions
    • Bowtie risk methodology
    • Risk assessment
    • Trainer and coaching skills
    • Process mapping
    • Writing better reports
    • Creating a vision
  • Coaching
    • Accident investigator coaching
    • Consultant coaching
    • Manager coaching
  • Contact
  • News
  • Resources
    • Rail images
    • Tram images
    • Bus images
    • Human factors images
    • Event images
    • 1930s road safety advice
    • 1960s railway workshop safety
    • BR Training Manuals
  • Clients
  • Privacy
Home | Gallery | Human factors | Station exit signage
Underground station exit sign
Underground station; confusing exit signage. Image © Silver Moor Business Consulting 2022.

UNDERGROUND STATION EXIT SIGN

When trying to get out of this station I found that I ended up in a corridor with an escalator coming DOWN (I need to go UP to get out). When I looked for reasons why I might have
made this error I noticed that the sign had led me into a trap. Because I read from left to right (in common with the majority of this station’s users I suspect) my brain saw the 
arrow pointing to the left and my body set off... Actually this direction is for the lift, which is hidden away and a very slow method for exiting the station. The arrow and pictogram on the right are the ones that the majority of users need to follow.
Most stations use different colours or separate signs to show the way to the lift, with the quicker route being indicated with a more visible sign (see the example below).

London Underground exit sign
Clear station exit signage. Image © Silver Moor Business Consulting 2014.

Silver Moor Business Consulting LLP is registered in England and Wales. Registered Number: OC389666. VAT Registration No. GB 178 0758 72 
Registered Office: Coombe Wood House, Winscombe Hill, Winscombe, North Somerset, BS25 1DH, United Kingdom.

© Silver Moor Business Consulting LLP 2023. All rights reserved.