Effectiveness of using variable message signs to disseminate dynamic traffic information: Evidence from field trails in European cities

2004 ◽  
Vol 24 (5) ◽  
pp. 559-585 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kiron Chatterjee ◽  
Mike Mcdonald
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Information ◽  
Dynamic Traffic ◽  
Variable Message Signs ◽  
European Cities ◽  
Message Signs

Link Flow Evaluation Using Loop Detector Data: Traveler Response to Variable-Message Signs

1996 ◽  
Vol 1550 (1) ◽  
pp. 58-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Youngbin Yim ◽  
Jean-Luc Ygnace
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Traffic Management ◽  
Preliminary Investigation ◽  
Traffic Information ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Variable Message Signs ◽  
Real Time Traffic ◽  
Operational Test ◽  
Paris Region ◽  
Message Signs

Système d'Information Routière Intelligible aux Usagers (SIRIUS) is the largest urban field operational test of the advanced traveler information and automated traffic management system in Europe. With variable-message signs, SIRIUS has been in operation in the Paris region for 3 years. A preliminary investigation of the effectiveness of the SIRIUS system in traffic management is presented. The extent to which drivers respond to real-time traffic information and the consequential changes in link flow under SIRIUS is also presented. Time-series traffic data were analyzed to measure changes in mean flow rates at a selected link. It was found that variable-message signs influence drivers to choose less congested routes when drivers are provided with real-time traffic information, and that a driver's decision to divert is closely associated with the information pertaining to the level of congestion. In the Paris region, drivers received information on the length of the queue at the time of this study. As congestion becomes heavier, drivers are more likely to respond to variable-message signs. According to the data analysis, a queue length of 3 km seems to be a threshold at which a significant number of drivers choose to use an alternative route.

Analysis of the Influence of Traffic Information Messages on Route Selection

1995 ◽  
Vol 39 (17) ◽  
pp. 1082-1086
Author(s):  
W. Bradley Fain
Keyword(s):  
Situation Awareness ◽  
Intelligent Transportation Systems ◽  
Traffic Congestion ◽  
Intelligent Transportation ◽  
Transportation Systems ◽  
Traffic Information ◽  
Route Selection ◽  
Variable Message Signs ◽  
Message Format ◽  
Message Signs

Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) can reduce traffic congestion by displaying congestion-related delay information on roadside variable message signs or in-vehicle displays. Message format and content may have a significant impact on the percentage of drivers who decide to make a route diversion. In this study, the effect of various traffic information message types on driver routing decisions was evaluated. Results suggest that messages including both an advisory and a descriptive component promote situation awareness and rapid decision making, both of which are critical for this application.

Motorist Attitudes about Content of Variable-Message Signs

1996 ◽  
Vol 1550 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brien G. Benson
Keyword(s):  
Focus Groups ◽  
Delay Time ◽  
Demographic Variables ◽  
Traffic Information ◽  
Variable Message Signs ◽  
Level Of Education ◽  
Time Estimates ◽  
Message Signs ◽  
Alternative Routes ◽  
Levels Of Support

Attitudes regarding the content of messages on variable-message signs (VMSs) are explored. Seven focus groups and a survey of more than 500 motorists in the Washington, D.C., area were carried out. Key findings are as follows. Motorists are evenly divided between those who regularly rely on VMSs and those who do not. Demographic variables have little influence on motorist attitudes about VMSs, except for a few cases involving level of education. Respondents are well disposed to VMS messages that are simple, reliable, and useful. Thus, noting the exact location of accidents, time-tagging traffic information, and posting anti-rubbernecking messages received high levels of support. Proposals failing in any of these regards were met with less interest, including delay time estimates, safety messages, and posting of alternative routes.

scholarly journals MODELLING TRAVELLERS’ ROUTE SWITCHING BEHAVIOUR IN RESPONSE TO VARIABLE MESSAGE SIGNS USING THE TECHNOLOGY ACCEPTANCE MODEL

Transport ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (5) ◽  
pp. 533-547
Author(s):  
El Bachir Diop ◽  
Shengchuan Zhao ◽  
Shuo Song ◽  
Tran Van Duy
Keyword(s):  
Technology Acceptance ◽  
Technology Acceptance Model ◽  
Latent Variables ◽  
Perceived Usefulness ◽  
Traffic Information ◽  
Causal Relationships ◽  
Variable Message Signs ◽  
Acceptance Model ◽  
Message Signs ◽  
Positive Effect

Recent studies adopted models of user acceptance of information technology to predict and explain drivers’ acceptance of traffic information. Among these frameworks, the most commonly used is the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). However, TAM is too general and does not consider drivers’ response in specific traffic conditions or choice scenarios. This study combines an extended TAM with different choice scenarios displayed by Variable Message Signs (VMS) into a Hybrid Choice Model (HCM). Two models are proposed. The first model takes into account the causal relationships among latent variables based on the following hypotheses: Information Quality (IQ) has a positive effect on Perceived Usefulness (PU) and Perceived Ease of Use (PEOU) which, in turn, have a positive effect on the Behavioural Intention (BI) to use traffic information. In the second model, the four latent variables PU, PEOU, IQ, and BI are directly added to the utility function without any causal relationships. 339 drivers with valid licence were interviewed via Stated Preference (SP) survey and the results show that TAM can explain travellers’ response to VMS if the causal relationships among latent variables are taken into account. In addition, all hypothesized relationships are strongly supported. Practical and academic implications are also discussed.

scholarly journals Effectiveness of Variable Message Signs on Driving Behavior Based on a Driving Simulation Experiment

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xuedong Yan ◽  
Jiawei Wu
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Safety ◽  
Road Network ◽  
Simulation Experiment ◽  
Driving Simulator ◽  
Driving Behavior ◽  
Driving Simulation ◽  
Traffic Information ◽  
Variable Message Signs ◽  
Information Format ◽  
Message Signs

Variable message signs (VMSs), as one of the important ITS devices, provide real-time traffic information of road network to drivers in order to improve route choice and relieve the traffic congestion. In this study, the effectiveness of VMS on driving behavior was tested based on a driving simulation experiment. A road network with three levels of VMS location to route-diverging intersection and three types of VMS information format was designed in a high fidelity driving simulator platform. Fifty-two subjects who were classified by driver age, gender, and vocation successfully completed this experiment. The experimental results showed that driver characteristics, VMS location, and information format profoundly influence driving behaviors. Based on the research findings, it is suggested that VMS would be positioned between 150 m and 200 m upstream of the diverging point to balance the VMS effects on traffic safety and operation and the graphic information VMS format is better than the format with text massage only.

scholarly journals Analysis of Colored Variable Message Signs for Visibility and Comprehensibility

2020 ◽  
Vol 2674 (1) ◽  
pp. 125-134
Author(s):  
Kristin Kersavage ◽  
S. Ilgin Guler ◽  
Martin Pietrucha
Keyword(s):  
Laboratory Experiments ◽  
Safety Information ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Preliminary Test ◽  
Traffic Information ◽  
Expert Interviews ◽  
Travel Times ◽  
Variable Message Signs ◽  
Message Signs ◽  
Static Conditions

Variable message signs (VMS) present traffic information to motorists in either real-time or asynchronous static conditions, for example, such as safety information. This information can consist of early warning, advisory, and alternative route messages, and travel time information. Many U.S. states currently use VMS. New technology allows for messages to be configured using colored fonts and backgrounds, but whether these new features affect the visibility and comprehensibility of VMS is not known. Expert interviews and laboratory tests were conducted to examine the effectiveness of the use of different wording, text, and background colors, and types of information on a VMS. The expert interviews provided information on best practices related to VMS design and use, and provided feedback on the preliminary test panel candidates, which were modified and used in the final group of test stimuli. The first laboratory experiments compared signs based on the reaction times and viewing distances of participants reading and interpreting sign information. The shortest reaction times occurred when: (a) messages displayed time only, (b) route numbers were displayed as text, not as part of route shields, and (c) color was not used, but if color were used it would be on a black background and to show congested travel times. The second laboratory experiments compared signs based on the correctness of the participants’ responses about travel times or distances. The results determined there were no differences in identifying the travel times or distances; however, using MI instead of MILES can increase the percentage of correct responses relative to the identification of distances to road junctions or hazards.

Data-Based Sorting Algorithm for Variable Message Sign Location: Case Study of Beijing

2017 ◽  
Vol 2645 (1) ◽  
pp. 86-93 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bingfeng Si ◽  
Zhengbing He ◽  
Xiaobao Yang ◽  
Ziyou Gao
Keyword(s):  
Transportation Network ◽  
Traffic Information ◽  
Sorting Algorithm ◽  
Practical Case ◽  
Traffic Data ◽  
Variable Message Signs ◽  
Urban Road ◽  
Message Signs ◽  
Beijing China

Variable message signs (VMSs) provide important traffic information to help drivers travel better on a transportation network. The effectiveness of VMSs largely depends on the numbers and locations of VMSs in a transportation network. Although a few optimization models have been proposed to find candidate roads for locating VMSs, few have been devoted to developing algorithms that can be used in a real transportation network. A large amount of traffic data, such as traffic flow data, is widely available, collected by various means. Based on those traffic data, a sorting algorithm for a VMS location problem is presented in this paper. The algorithm gave a VMS location order rather than a location set. The proposed method divided roads into categories according to multilevel attributes and preferentially selected roads of a higher class with larger flows and more information and the minimal effect of existing VMS in a certain order to locate VMS. The proposed algorithm was analyzed and verified through a practical case on the Beijing, China, urban road network.

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