Car Wash

Synonyms / Other Terms Used

Motor Car Wash, Car Cleaning, Fast Wash

Category

Guidance and Information, Concessions, Transportation

Message / Function

To indicate the location of a car wash

	Source	Description
	Kapitzki	Side view of two cars, one in outline, partially underneath shower head with water indicated by lines, two arrows pointing in driving direction
	Parks Canada	Side view of car underneath horizontal line and trapezoid as water source, with water indicated by lines of dots
	Michel	Side view of car underneath horizontal line and trapezoid as water source, with water indicated by lines of dots
	Dreyfuss	Front view of car showing several details underneath shower head with water indicated by lines of dots
	CNIS	Front view of car underneath shower head with water indicated by lines of dots
	Shutterstock.com	Front view of car showing several details underneath shower head with water indicated by lines of drops
	SADC	Front view of car showing several details underneath shower head with water indicated by lines of dots
	Slovenia 2015	Front view of car showing several details underneath shower head with water indicated by several lines
	O'72	Front view of car in stream of drops indicated by lines of dots
	freizeitkarte osm.de	Front view of car in stream of drops indicated by three lines
	Aicher OAP	Front view of car with brushes indicated by parallel lines, on both sides and above
	Galicia	Front view of car with brushes indicated by parallel lines, on both sides and above
	Mark Rademaker	Front view of car with brushes indicated by zigzag lines, on both sides and above
	SSRS	Side view of human figure washing car (in front view) also indicated by large drops of water, bucket in foreground

Discussion

Pictograms found frequently show a car underneath shower head with water indicated either by lines of dots or drops. The second most common concept is based on a car between several brushes. Most renderings are based on displaying a car in front view.

In our research we did not discover any test data on comprehensibility of pictograms used to indicate the location of a car wash, but we have the impression that most variants could be well comprehensible. This is confirmed by the fact that the Parks Canada pictogram No 6-2-012: Car Wash displayed above neither has the status Retired, nor has to be accompanied by a supportive text message. According to the information presented in the Parks Canada Identity Program (2007) it should therefore have reached a comprehension rate of 80 % or higher in the Parks Canada research program.

Recommendations

As no detailed data is available on comprehensibility of the pictograms available to indicate the location of a car wash, we suggest to start testing using the Comprehensibility Estimation procedure for eliminating poor variants and identifying the best of the set available, followed by a Comprehension Test. These studies should deliver useful data for recommending the best pictogram. Detailed information about the most frequent responses given in each of the response categories of the Comprehension Test should be provided to correctly judge comprehensibility and improve designs.

Tests of pictograms of referent Car Wash

Parks Canada (2007): Parks Canada Identity Program: Exterior Signage; Standards and Guidelines - Version 1. March 2007.