VMS – Variable Message Signs a Literature Review
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VTI rapport 570A www.vti.se/publications Published 2007 VMS – Variable Message Signs A literature review Sara Nygårdhs Gabriel Helmers Publisher: Publication: VTI rapport 570A Published: Project code: Dnr: 2007 80643 2006/0055-28 SE-581 95 Linköping Sweden Project: Use of VMS Author: Sponsor: Sara Nygårdhs Danish Road Directorate Gabriel Helmers Title: VMS – Variable Message Signs. A literature review Abstract (background, aim, method, result) max 200 words: This literature review is primarily aimed at describing studies that deal with the interaction between driver behaviour and variable message signs, VMS. The collected references are, for the most part, published in Europe or studies about European conditions, published during the years of 2000–2005. Areas treated in the study are effects on driver behaviour, driver attitudes, design, understanding and recall of VMS, and accidents and regulations concerning VMS. The literature review is supplemented by a behavioural background and recommendations from a behavioural science perspective. Keywords: Literature review, VMS, variable message sign ISSN: Language: No. of pages: 0347-6030 English 51 Utgivare: Publikation: VTI rapport 570A Utgivningsår: Projektnummer: Dnr: 2007 80643 2006/0055-28 581 95 Linköping Projektnamn: Användning av VMS Författare: Uppdragsgivare: Sara Nygårdhs Vejdirektoratet, Danmark Gabriel Helmers Titel: VMS – Variabla meddelandeskyltar. En litteraturstudie Referat (bakgrund, syfte, metod, resultat) max 200 ord: Denna litteraturstudie redovisar i huvudsak undersökningar som har syftat till att undersöka sambandet mellan trafikantbeteende och variabla meddelandeskyltar, VMS. De samlade referenserna är till övervägande del publicerade i Europa eller handlar om europeiska förhållanden samt är utgivna under åren 2000–2005. Områden som behandlas i studien är effekter på förarbeteende, förarattityder, utformning, förståelse och hågkomst av VMS samt olyckor och regelverk gällande VMS. Litteraturstudien är kompletterad med en beteendevetenskaplig bakgrund och rekommendationer ur ett beteendeperspektiv. Nyckelord: Litteraturstudie, VMS, variabel meddelandeskylt ISSN: Språk: Antal sidor: 0347-6030 Engelska 51 Preface This study has been performed on commission by Danish Road Directorate where Kenneth Kjemtrup has been the contact. The literature review has been carried out by Sara Nygårdhs, VTI, and was supplemented with a chapter on VMS behavioural background and recommendations by Gabriel Helmers, behavioural scientist. The author would like to thank Hillevi Nilsson Ternström at BIC, the library and information centre at VTI, for information retrieval and Sven-Olof Lundkvist, VTI, for support during the work. Linköping December 2006 Sara Nygårdhs Omslag: Photos.com VTI rapport 570A Quality review Internal peer review was performed on 2006-12-11 by researcher Sven-Olof Lundkvist. Sara Nygårdhs has made alterations to the final manuscript of the report on 2006-12-13. The research director of the project manager Gudrun Öberg examined and approved the report for publication on 2007-01-05. Kvalitetsgranskning Intern peer review har genomförts 2006-12-11 av forskare Sven-Olof Lundkvist. Sara Nygårdhs har genomfört justeringar av slutligt rapportmanus 2006-12-13. Projektledarens närmaste chef Gudrun Öberg har därefter granskat och godkänt publikationen för publicering 2007-01-05. VTI rapport 570A Contents Summary............................................................................................................ 7 Sammanfattning ................................................................................................. 5 1 Introduction.............................................................................................. 9 2 Definitions.............................................................................................. 10 3 Effects on Driver Behaviour ................................................................... 11 3.1 Speed Limit Signs.................................................................................. 12 3.2 Danger Warning Signs........................................................................... 14 3.3 Informative Signs ................................................................................... 15 4 Driver Attitudes ...................................................................................... 19 4.1 Speed Limit Signs.................................................................................. 19 4.2 Danger Warning Signs........................................................................... 20 4.3 Informative Signs ................................................................................... 21 5 Design, Understanding and Recall of Signs........................................... 22 6 Accidents ............................................................................................... 31 7 Message Data Bases............................................................................. 32 8 Regulations, Recommendations and Use of VMS ................................. 33 8.1 The Nordic Countries............................................................................. 33 8.2 Other European Countries..................................................................... 36 9 Criteria for VMS ..................................................................................... 38 10 Future Research - Proposals in the Literature ....................................... 39 11 VMS – Behavioural Background and Recommendations ...................... 40 11.1 Some Basic Principles of a Mental Model of Driver Behaviour .............. 40 11.2 To Influence Driver Behaviour by Fixed and Variable Message Signs .. 43 11.3 Recommendations for the Use of VMS.................................................. 44 References....................................................................................................... 47 VTI rapport 570A VTI rapport 570A VMS – Variable Message Signs. A literature review by Sara Nygårdhs and Gabriel Helmers VTI (Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute) SE-581 95 Linköping Sweden Summary The acronym VMS stands for Variable Message Sign. It is a sign for the purpose of displaying one of a number of messages that may be changed or switched on or off as required (CEN, 2005). This literature review is primarily aimed at describing studies that deal with the interaction between driver behaviour and VMS. The collected references are, for the most part, published in Europe or studies about European conditions, published during the years of 2000-2005. Areas treated in the study are effects on driver behaviour, driver attitudes, design, understanding and recall of VMS, accidents and regulations concerning VMS. Some of the studies are referred to below. In a research project it was concluded that variable speed limit signs were most often obeyed, but display of extra information justifying the speed limit led to higher compliance. A warning sign alone was less effective than the combination of speed limit sign and additional information. An English study describes a warning system for fog on motorways in London. When the fog messages were shown, there was a significant speed decrease. The conclusions of the investigation indicate that the fog warnings caught the attention of the drivers for fog ahead and that the drivers were better prepared to drive safely through the fog. The expectations of the driver and the reliability of the information are two important factors to consider when showing a VMS. The system must work and show correct messages because the drivers expect to get updated information and the information has to be reliable to be obeyed. A Finnish study states that drivers accept VMS and rely on the system. Almost all drivers consider VMS based on real-weather and road condition data to be necessary. The most common advantages mentioned with VMS are improved traffic flow and increased traffic safety. In another Finnish study, drivers declare that with VMS their attention is focused on searching for potential hazards, they test the road for slipperiness and are more careful when overtaking. Most drivers accepted lowered speed limits and found variable speed limits valuable. It is concluded that an effective variable message sign may draw attention from other, fixed signs. This leads to recommending slippery road signs only at critical spots, and variable speed limits for longer road sections. The literature review is supplemented by a behavioural background and recommendations from a behavioural science perspective. VTI rapport 570A 5 6 VTI rapport 570A VMS – Variabla meddelandeskyltar. En litteraturstudie av Sara Nygårdhs och Gabriel Helmers VTI 581 95 Linköping Sammanfattning Förkortningen VMS står för Variable Message Sign, dvs. variabel meddelandeskylt. Det är en skylt som är gjord för att visa ett av ett antal meddelanden som kan ändras, stängas av eller slås på efter behov (CEN, 2005). Denna litteraturstudie redovisar i huvudsak undersökningar som har syftat till att undersöka sambandet mellan trafikantbeteende och VMS. De samlade referenserna är till övervägande del publicerade i Europa eller handlar om europeiska förhållanden samt är utgivna under åren 2000-2005. Områden som behandlas i studien är effekter på förarbeteende, förarattityder, utformning, förståelse och hågkomst av VMS samt olyckor och regelverk gällande VMS. Några av studierna refereras nedan. I ett forskningsprojekt fann man att variabla hastighetsskyltar åtlyddes