We're looking for the stop sign (big red hexegon).
Though I've seen a new stop sign added recently, and the number of cars that don't see it is remarkable.
These two sentences together show that our brains aren't just looking for the signs; we're also looking at many other aspects of the situation and even taking into account past experience (e.g. is this an intersection? Have I seen a stop sign here before? If I'm new to this area, I'm likely going to be far more alert to the signage.)
If someone planted a (non-modified) stop sign on the side of a highway, where the road is completely straight and with no intersection, I bet some drivers won't even see it, those who do will be puzzled, and approximately none of them will even try to stop.
Though I've seen a new stop sign added recently, and the number of cars that don't see it is remarkable.
These two sentences together show that our brains aren't just looking for the signs; we're also looking at many other aspects of the situation and even taking into account past experience (e.g. is this an intersection? Have I seen a stop sign here before? If I'm new to this area, I'm likely going to be far more alert to the signage.)
If someone planted a (non-modified) stop sign on the side of a highway, where the road is completely straight and with no intersection, I bet some drivers won't even see it, those who do will be puzzled, and approximately none of them will even try to stop.