Technical Paper
Traffic Control with Variable Message Signs
1991-10-01
912732
One way to provide dynamic route information to travellers is by means of Variable Message Signs (VMS). Owing to the availability of reasonable alternative routes for several important traffic relations, the Ring Road around Amsterdam, which was completed in September, 1990, offers an almost ideal situation for the use of VMS. The first VMS will be installed on this Ring Road by the end of 1991. In this paper results of research into the design and the effects of a VMS will be presented. The paper starts with the description of the general framework of a VMS-system. Several projects related to aspects of this framework are discussed in more detail: A simulator study into the effects of VMS on route choice and driving behavior. The influence of VMS on route choice and driving behavior was studied using a mock-up car. Several types of VMS were used for providing route information.
