The　driving　environment　in　the　freeway　exit　areas　is　complex,　and　the　installation　of　relevant　signs　can　enhance　the　creation　of　a　safe　and　smooth　exit　area　environment.　This　study　investigated　the　situation　awareness　(SA)　scores　of　two　types　of　drivers　using　different　signs　in　the　freeway　exit　areas　and　the　correlation　between　drivers’　eye　movement,　driving　behavior,　and　SA　scores.　The　driving　tasks　were　divided　into　two　situations:　continuing　on　the　mainline　and　entering　the　exit　ramp.　The　independent　variables　included　scene　type　(static　speed　limit　signs,　static　speed　limit　signs　plus　variable　message　signs,　variable　speed　limit　signs,　variable　speed　limit　signs　plus　variable　message　signs),　and　participant　type　(experienced　and　inexperienced　participants).　The　dependent　variables　were　SA,　eye　movement,　and　driving　behavior.　Each　participant　completed　a　driving　simulation　experiment　with　the　two　driving　tasks,　totaling　eight　scenes.　The　SA　scores　were　measured　using　the　Situation　Awareness　Global　Assessment　Technique　(SAGAT).　The　driving　behavior　and　eye　movement　were　collected　during　the　experimental　data　analysis　segment,　and　the　sensitivity　indicators　for　evaluating　drivers’　SA　were　determined　by　calculating　the　correlation　with　the　SAGAT　scores.　This　paper　focuses　on　applying　variable　message　signs　(VMS)　to　speed　limits　in　freeway　exit　areas　from　the　driver＇s　perspective　to　enhance　driving　safety.　The　findings　showed　that　drivers　have　better　SA　in　scenes　with　VMS,　and　experienced　drivers　have　better　SA　than　inexperienced　drivers　in　the　same　scene.　The　VMS　affects　speed　control,　and　eye　movement　is　a　sensitive　SA　indicator.　©　2024