To　investigate　the　optimal　method　of　the　complex　diagrammatic　guide　signs　(DGSs),　a　typical　complex　DGS　is　selected,　and　five　alternatives　are　considered,　including　the　current　situation　(CS),　repetition　(RT),　simplification　(SF),　pavement　words　(PW),　and　advance　placement　(AP).　This　study　conducts　a　driving　simulation　experiment　and　develops　a　comprehensive　index　system　based　on　five　aspects:　operating　status,　maneuvering　behavior,　lane　change　behavior,　subjective　perception,　and　errors.　Seventeen　indicators　are　extracted　and　analyzed　in　total.　The　repeated-measure　analysis　of　variances　is　performed　for　the　overall,　and　segment-by-segment　influence.　In　the　overall　analysis　results,　the　significance　indicators　are　primarily　operating　status,　lane　change　behavior,　subjective　perception,　and　errors.　The　gas　pedal　and　the　releasing　gas　pedal　distance　were　also　significantly　affected.　However,　braking-related　indicators　are　not　greatly　influenced.　In　the　segment-by-segment　analysis　results,　the　five　operational　status　indicators,　gas　pedals　and　lane　numbers　are　mainly　significantly　impacted.　It　also　obtains　a　spatial　distribution　pattern　of　the　significance　indicators,　whose　location　is　related　to　the　area　of　DGS　settings　in　various　alternatives.　Significant　differences　exist　between　the　overall　analysis　and　the　segment-by-segment　analysis.　Significant　impact　indicators　are　selected　based　on　two　types　of　analysis.　The　non-integer　rank　RSR　method　is　employed　to　evaluate　the　efficiency　of　five　alternatives.　The　final　rank　order　from　best　to　worst　was　RT,　AP,　CS,　PW,　and　SF.　Comparatively,　drivers　in　RT　and　AP　will　experience　more　minor　speed　fluctuations,　less　driving　time　and　throttle　release　distance,　earlier　early　lane　change　behavior,　and　lower　error　rates.　This　study　recommends　the　RT　and　AP　alternatives　to　improve　the　complex　DGS.　Under　specific　conditions,　the　AP　option　is　preferred.