The　continuous　growth　of　automobile　ownership　and　road　mileage　in　China　has　brought　a　lot　of　road　maintenance　work.　The　work　zone　shall　be　set　for　road　maintenance　work.　Due　to　the　road　characteristics　near　the　work　zone,　more　accidents　and　a　higher　accident　risk　exist.　Traffic　signs　are　one　of　the　essential　means　to　ensure　traffic　safety.　The　location　and　number　of　road　work　signs　(sign　level)　play　a　crucial　role　in　driver　safety　near　the　work　zone.　The　repeated　road　work　signs　can　form　a　warning　system　to　regulate　driver　behavior.　This　paper　evaluates　the　effect　of　the　number　of　warning　signs　with　and　without　distance　information　on　driver　behavior　(psychological　load　and　physiological　characteristics)　near　the　work　zone.　The　matter-element　extension　model　is　used　for　comprehensive　evaluation.　The　study　resulted　in　several　findings.　First,　adding　distance　information　improves　the　difficulty　and　time　of　visual　recognition　and　enhances　driver　alertness.　On　the　other　hand,　too　many　road　signs　are　not　conducive　to　maintaining　driver　alertness.　Second,　distance　information　on　the　work　signs　and　the　repeated　setting　of　road　warning　signs　add　extra　burden　on　the　driver　and　increase　driver　fatigue.　Third,　driver＇s　response　to　the　repeated　road　work　signs　will　gradually　become　stable;　The　speed　transition　under　the　warning　signs　Levels　2　and　3　are　more　stable　than　that　under　the　warning　sign　Levels　1　and　4.　Finally,　the　warning　sign　level　shall　not　be　more　than　3.　If　the　advanced　warning　area　is　short,　it　is　recommended　to　select　a　warning　sign　Level　1.　If　the　advanced　warning　area　is　relatively　long,　it　is　recommended　to　choose　a　warning　sign　Level　2.　Finally,　adding　distance　information　will　improve　the　overall　effect　of　the　warning　scheme.　These　findings　can　provide　a　valuable　reference　for　setting　the　road　work　signs　near　the　work　zone　in　practice　in　China.　©　2023