Existing VMS signing for changing road/traffic conditions

1
Existing VMS signing for changing road/traffic
conditions

• WP1. WIND
• WP2. VISIBILITY
• WP3. GRIP
• WP4. TRAFFIC FLOW
• WP5. CAPACITY
• WP6. ITINERARY

2
WP1. Wind
WP1.1. Road wind
3
Specific situation cross wind
Messages intended to warn against the existence
of cross wind Main signing functions Type of
action tactical
Location of M-VMS
Wind

Spain-DGT
Spain-SCT
France
Italy
Netherlands
PICTOGRAM
L.1.
STRONG WIND
STRONG WIND GUSTS
SIDE WIND GUSTS
?
ALPHANUMERIC
L.2.
BEGIN EXIT
Distance/Length
L.3.
END EXIT
CAUTION
LATERAL
COMMENTS
Road event hard to locate (Distance/length not
displayed)
Never displayed on M-VMS (no text)
No VMS mounted on windy spots yet, if one sign
had to be used, it would be the one above
EXAMPLES
4
WP2. Visibility
WP2.1. Bad visibility
5
Specific situation bad visibility
Messages intended to warn on reduced visibility
(due to fog) Main road functions Type of
action tactical
Location of M-VMS
Fog

Spain-DGT
Spain-SCT
France
Italy
Netherlands
PICTOGRAM
FOG FOG CLOUDS CAUTION FOG
L.1.
FOG
FOG
FOG
?
ALPHANUMERIC
L.2.
Beginning point VISIBILITY 100 M
Distance/Length
Distance/Length
L.3.
TILL End point VEL MAX 50KM/H
CAUTION
Used on lane-control VMS, but not on M-VMS
Sometimes meters of visibility and speed are
given, in accordance with the Police
LATERAL

Road event hard to locate (distance/length not
displayed)
COMMENTS
EXAMPLES
6
WP3. Grip
WP3.1. Rain or pools WP3.2. Snowfall or ice
7
Specific situation slippery road
Messages intended to warn on the existence of a
slippery road section (e.g., due to excess of
water or pools) Main road functions Type of
action tactical
Spain-DGT
Spain-SCT
France
Italy
Netherlands
PICTOGRAM
L.1.
WITH RAIN
XX KM AWAY
WITH RAIN
?
ALPHANUMERIC
L.2.
CAUTION
MAX SPEED
Distance/Length
L.3.
Cause
110 KM/H
Two regulatory M-VMS displayed on road C33
Upriver from the section a patroller car
displays an alert message defining the danger
(water, pool)
Usually without pictogram Analysis ongoing with
Police
Posted signs only. Never displayed on VMS
COMMENTS
EXAMPLES
110 KM/H
8
Specific situation slippery road due to ice or
snow
Messages intended to warn on the existence of a
slippery road section due to ice or snow Main
road functions Type of action tactical
Location of M-VMS
Snow, ice

Spain-DGT
Spain-SCT
France
Italy
Netherlands
PICTOGRAM
L.1.
SNOW ICE
Situation 1 SNOWFALLS Situation 2
ICE Situation 3 ICE
?
ALPHANUMERIC
Situation 1 CAUTION Situation 2 SLOW
DOWN Situation 3 CAUTION
L.2.
SLOW DOWN CAUTION LOCATION 1
Distance/Length
Distance/Length
L.3.
CAUSE
LOCATION 2
For ICE ONLY Situation 2 Alert with flashing
lights if Distance VMS ice lt 2 km Situation 3
Normal if Distance VMS ice gt 2km and lt 60 km
LATERAL
Posted signs only. Never displayed on VMS
No VMS mounted on relevant spots. Additional
regulatory
Various messages possible, depending on situation
COMMENTS
CHUTES DE NEIGE
EXAMPLES
KM 110 ? KM 180

SOYEZ PRUDENTS
VERGLAS
RALENTISSEZ
KM 110 ? KM 180

VERGLAS
SOYEZ PRUDENTS

9
WP4. Traffic flow
WP4.1. Congestion no exit WP4.2. Congestion
exit WP4.3. Congested exit
New!
10
Specific situation traffic congestion ahead no
exit
Messages intended to warn about traffic jam on
the road section (no exit available) Main road
functions Type of action tactical
Spain-DGT
Spain-SCT
France
Italy
Netherlands
PICTOGRAM
CONGESTION-INCIDENT SLOW TRAFFIC CONGESTION OF
XX KM QUEUE
INTENSE TRAFFIC JAMMED TRAFFIC
Situation 1 CONGESTION Situation 2 CONGESTION
L.1.
ALPHANUMERIC
L.2.
LOCATION 1 OF XX KM
Distance, length (NEAR) AHEAD
? TILL LOC XX KM QUEUE
Situation 1 SLOW DOWN Situation 2 XX KM AWAY
L.3.
A12 TILL L-B QUEUE FREE ?
Situation 1 null Situation 2 TRHOUGH-TIME
XXHYY
(CAUSE)
LOCATION 2 TILL LOCATION
In motorways and urban roads Intense, dense,
very dense. Only text is used when the danger
is further than a given distance.
LATERAL

Regulatory
Situation 1 Alert with flashing lights if
Distance VMS tail of Congestion lt 2 km
COMMENTS
On most text signs no pictogram (yet)
Sometimes the message increasing (or decreasing)
queue is given
ADD TO FRANCE COMMENT Bouchon speed 40 km/h
(motorways) and 30 km/h (highways) cars
stopped or bounding. P.1. Goes with first
sentence on L.1., L.2., L.3. Ralentissement
speed 40-80 km/h (motorway) or 30-60 km/h
(highways) rare stops. P.2. Goes with 2nd-3RD
sentence on L.1., L.2., L.3.
Situation 2 Normal if Distance VMS tail of
Congestion gt 2km and lt 60 km
Through-time always displayed when available and
gt10min. (See sl. 23)
BOUCHON
? A13 TOT DELFT 15 KM FILE
RALENTISSEZ

EXAMPLES
A12 TOT GOUDA FILEVRIJ ?
BOUCHON
A 10 KM
4 KM

TRAVERSEE 0H40

11
Specific situation traffic congestion ahead
exit available
CONGESTION
Messages intended to warn about traffic jam on
the road section (one exit available) Main road
functions Type of action tactical/ strategic
M-VMS
Spain-DGT
Spain-SCT
France
Italy
Netherlands
PICTOGRAM
1
2
TILL LOCATION
DESTINATION ROAD XX MIN
CONGESTION-INCIDENT SLOW TRAFFIC CONGESTION OF
XX KM QUEUE
ROAD CLOSED
CONGESTION
L.1.
ALTERNATIVE
ALPHANUMERIC
L.2.
?VIA ROAD XX KM QUEUE
CITY
LOCATION 1 OF XX KM
Distance, length ROAD XX MIN
OF XX KM AFTER
CITY ROAD
VIA ROAD QUEUE FREE ?
Situation 1 NAME OF INTERCHANGE
L.3.
VIA ROAD ROAD XXMIN
LOCATION 2 TILL LOCATION
Situation 2 EXIT NUMBER

Sometimes exit suggested, according to the
Police. Increasing or decreasing queue given
sometimes.
Situation 1 inter-urban
COMMENTS
P.1.Management messages. Exit is recommended.
First sentence on L.1, L.2,L.3 P.2. Information
messages. Exit indirectly suggested. Second
sentence on L.1, L.2, L.3.
On most text signs no pictogram (yet)
Situation 2 peri-urban On-going national
reflection in order to systematize this
methodology
TOT GOUDA
EXAMPLES
? VIA A12 40 KM FILE
VIA A13 FILEVRIJ ?
MADRID
ARLES SORTIE 26
(BOTH-ALTERNATE)
12
Specific situation traffic congestion on next
exit
New!
Messages intended to warn about traffic jam on
the next exit available Main road
functions Type of action strategic
CONGESTION
Spain-DGT
Spain-SCT
France
Italy
Netherlands
PICTOGRAM
1
2
TILL LOCATION
DESTINATION ROAD
Situation 1 EXIT Situation 2 EXIT NUMBER
L.1.
QUEUE
L.2.
?VIA ROAD XX KM QUEUE
Distance Distance
Situation 1NAME Situation 2 CONGESTION
ALPHANUMERIC
EXIT
VIA ROAD QUEUE FREE ?
L.3.
VIA ROAD DIRECTION TOWN
Situation 1 CONGESTION
LOCATION
LATERAL

Situation 1 inter-urban
COMMENTS
P.1.Management messages. Route recommended.
First sentence on L.1, L.2,L.3 P.2. Information
messages. Suggestion to avoid exit. Second
sentence on L.1, L.2, L.3.
On most text signs no pictogram (yet)
Situation 2 peri-urban
Only if the congestion is located in the
off-ramp If moving back upstream then previous
case
TOT GOUDA
EXAMPLES
? VIA A12 40 KM FILE
VIA A13 FILEVRIJ ?
13
WP5. Capacity
WP5.1. Road closed no exit WP5.2. Road closed
exit WP5.3. Closed exit WP5.4. Lane
closed WP5.5. Hard shoulder available WP5.6. Hard
shoulder occupied WP5.7. Additional lane
New!
New!
14
Specific situation road closed ahead no exit
available
Messages intended to indicate that the road is
closed ahead when there is no exit
available Main road functions Type of action
tactical
New!
Location of M-VMS
Point of road closure

Spain-DGT
Spain-SCT
France
Italy
Netherlands
PICTOGRAM
L.1.
ROAD CLOSED
MOTORWAY CLOSED
ALPHANUMERIC
L.2.
XX KM
Situation 1 XX KM AWAY Situation 2 AFTER
LOC.
L.3.
(CAUSE)
TUNE TO 107.7
LATERAL
Reason for closure only mentioned by the
pictogram Location displayed only if big
city FM 107.7 always mentioned for further
information
Usually all VMS are located before an exit point
COMMENTS
When cars are detected on a queue this situation
becomes equivalent to congestion on the road
(no exit) (see traffic flow variations)
EXAMPLES
15
Specific situation road closed ahead exit
available
Point of road closed
Messages intended to indicate that the road is
closed ahead when there is a compulsory exit
before Main road functions Type of action
tactical/strategic
Location of M-VMS
Spain-DGT
Spain-SCT
France
Italy
Netherlands
?
PICTOGRAM
1
2
L.1.
? RD. AT LOC. CLOSED ? RD. CLOGGED
ROAD CLOSED COMPULSORY
COMPULSORY EXIT COMPULSORY EXIT CLOSED SECTION
Situation 1EXIT Situation 2EXIT NUMBER
ROAD CLOSED COMPULSORY
ALPHANUMERIC
L.2.
CAUSE ROAD WORKS
XX KM XX KM
LOCATION 1 RE-ENTERING AT LOCATION 1
XX KM XX KM
Situation 1 NAME Situation 2COMPULSORY
L.3.
? EXIT AVAILABLE FOLLOW ROAD ?
(CAUSE) (CAUSE)
Situation 1 COMPULSORY
(CAUSE) LOCATION 2 LOCATION 2
(CAUSE) (CAUSE)
LATERAL
Situation 1 inter-urban
COMMENTS
First sentence on L.1,, L.2., L.3., goes with
P.1. Second sentence on L.1,, L.2., L.3., goes
with P.2.
Not used on M-VMS Text is preferred
No pictogram available. First sentence on L.1,,
L.2., L.3., when road is closed due to
unforeseen event Second sentence on L.1,, L.2.,
L.3., when road is closed due to road works
Situation 2 peri-urban
VIA CORTADA
OBBLIGO USCITA
EXAMPLES
BIANDRATE
5 KM

OBRAS

CAUSA LAVORI
OBLIGATORIO
OBBLIGO USCITA
RIENTRO A
3 KM
ORTONA

OBRAS
16
Specific situation next exit closed
Messages intended to indicate that the following
exit is utterly closed Main road
functions Type of action tactical/strategic
New!
Point of exit closed
Location of M-VMS
Spain-DGT
Spain-SCT
France
Italy
Netherlands
PICTOGRAM
L.1.
CLOSED CLOSED WAY
EXIT NUMBER X EXIT NUMBER X
EXIT
Situation 1EXIT Situation 2EXIT NUMBER
ALPHANUMERIC
L.2.
CLOSED ALTERNATIVE
EXIT
ROAD ROAD
Situation 1 NAME Situation 2 CLOSED
L.3.
EXIT NUMBER Y
DIRECTION TOWN Distance
CLOSED
Situation 1 CLOSED
LATERAL
COMMENTS
Situation 1 inter-urban
Usually the pictogram is Displayed when the exit
is closed due to road works
Situation 2 peri-urban
SURTIDA 23
CORTADA
USCITA
EXAMPLES
TANCADA
BIANDRATE
CARRETERA

DIR. HUELVA

CHIUSA

SURTIDA 23
VIA CORTADA
ALTERNATIVA
A-3
SURTIDA 24
5 KM
17
Specific situation lane closed
Messages intended to indicate that one (or
several) lanes ahead are closed Main road
functions Type of action tactical
Location of M-VMS
Point of lane closure
Spain-DGT
Spain-SCT
France
Italy
Netherlands

?
?
PICTOGRAM
L.1.
ROAD WORKS
Situation 1 WORKS Situation 2 WORKS Situation
3 WORKS
? ROAD AT LOCATION
ALPHANUMERIC
L.2.
ROAD WORKS
XX KM XX KM
XX KM XX KM
Situation 1 SLOWDOWN Situation 2 XX KM AWAY
Situation 3 AFTER
L.3.
(CAUSE) (CAUSE)
(CAUSE) (CAUSE)
ONLY 1 LANE OPEN
Situation 3 NAME OF EXIT
LATERAL
Situation 1 Alert with flashing lights if
Distance VMS Point of closure lt 2 km Arrows
displayed only in this situation Situation 2
Normal if Distance VMS point of closure gt 2km
and lt 60 km
COMMENTS
Regulatory pictogram used to indicate only one
lane available
Usually managed with mobile VMS (sparingly, for
road works ). Sometimes WORKS is indicated,
with the related pictogram.
No pictogram available M_VMS Location on
L.1,, reason on L.2., and result on L.3.

TRAVAUX
EXAMPLES
2 KM
2 KM
RALENTISSEZ
OBRES
OBRAS


TRAVAUX
3 KM
3 KM
A 10 KM
OBRES

OBRAS
TRAVAUX
APRES
AVIGNON-SUD
18
Specific situation hard shoulder available
Location of M-VMS
Messages intended to establish the use and
availability levels of the hard shoulder Main
road functions Type of action tactical
Hard shoulder section
Spain-DGT
Spain-SCT
France
Italy
Netherlands
?
?
1
PICTOGRAM
1
3
2
2
3
L.1.
HARD SHOULDER - END OF HARD SHOULDER
?
?
?
?
ALPHANUMERIC
L.2.
XX KM XX KM XX KM
L.3.
AVAILABLE END OF HARD SHOULDER -
LATERAL
Situation managed only on Tangenziale di Mestre,
but not on M-VMS. Green arrow / red cross
pictograms are used.
P.1. Goes with first sentence on L.1., L.2.,
L.3, P.2., go with second sentence on L.1.,
L.2., L.3, P.3., go with third sentence Also
regulatory
P.1. Hard shoulder open P.2. HS is going to
close P.3. HS is closed Specific VMS device, no
text used
COMMENTS
EXAMPLES
19
Specific situation hard shoulder occupied
Messages intended to warn a potentially dangerous
hard shoulder occupancy Main road
functions Type of action tactical
Location of M-VMS
Hard shoulder section
Spain-DGT
Spain-SCT
France
Italy
Netherlands
?
?
PICTOGRAM
OBSTACLE Or STOPPED VEHICLE
L.1.
XX KM
RIGHT HARD SHOULDER
?
?
ALPHANUMERIC
L.2.
Situation 1 REPORTED Situation 2 XX KM
AWAY Situation 3 XX KM AFTER
RIGHT HARD SHOULDER
OCCUPIED
L.3.
OCCUPIED
Situation 1 SLOW DOWN Situation 2
CAUTION Situation 3 LOC.
LATERAL
Same text for both pictograms Also regulatory
Situation 1 Alert with flashing lights if
Distance VMS obstacle lt 2 km Situation 2
Normal if Distance VMS obstacle gt 2km and lt 60
km Situation 3 in the presence of an exit
between the VMS and the obstacle
COMMENTS
Particular messages can be used, in case of works
EXAMPLES

ARCEN DCHO.
OCUPADO
20
Specific situation additional (contra-flow)
lane available
Messages intended to deviate part of traffic flow
from the Main road using the direct lane
(additional or reversible lane). It also tries
to ensure a safe return to the main road. Main
road functions Type of action tactical
Additional lane area
Location of M-VMS
Location of M-VMS
Spain-DGT
Spain-SCT
France
Italy
Netherlands
?
PICTOGRAM
1
2
L.1.
DIRECT LANE ENTRANCE
DIRECT LANE
Situation 1 WORKS Situation 2 WORKS
REVERSIBLE LANE OPEN
WORKS
ALPHANUMERIC
L.2.
REVERSIBLE LANE CLOSED
Situation 1 SLOW DOWN Situation 2 XX KM AWAY
Distance Distance
TO TOWN
CAUTION
Situation 1 Alert with flashing lights if
Distance VMS Transfer beginning lt 2
km Situation 2 Normal if Distance VMS
transfer beginning gt 2km and lt 60 km Contraflow
lane set up only in case of works
L.3.
TO CITY DIRECT LANE
LATERAL
Only one reversible lane (wisselstrook) near
Amsterdam. A text indicates if this is open or
closed (dicht)
P.1. Goes with first sentence on L.1., L.2.,
L.3, P.2. Goes with second sentence on L.1.,
L.2., L.3,
COMMENTS

C. DIRECTO
TRAVAUX
EXAMPLES
2 KM
RALENTISSEZ

A MADRID
POR RETORNO
TRAVAUX
1 KM
A 6 KM

C. DIRECTO

TRAVAUX
A 10 KM

21
WP6. Itinerary Variations
WP6.1. Rerouting WP6.2. Travel times
22
Specific situation recommended rerouting
Destination
Messages intended to explicitly recommend an
alternative itinerary Main road functions Type
of action strategic
Location of M-VMS
Spain-DGT
Spain-SCT
France
Italy
Netherlands
?
PICTOGRAM
DESTINATION
RECOMMENDED TO CITY
L.1.
? ROAD AFTER LOC.
?
ALPHANUMERIC
L.2.
ROAD WORKS
Distance
ROAD BY ROAD
L.3.
LOC. FOLLOW ROAD
VIA ROAD
LATERAL

COMMENTS
Cross-border management. Pictogram displayed on
alphanumeric side, just beside text
Rare cases, for particular events, analysis
ongoing for possible messages
Either first or second Sentences on L.1 and
L.2 are used

RECOMENDADO
EXAMPLES
AP-2
23
Specific situation travel times
Messages intended to inform about journey times
on a given road section Main road
functions Type of action tactical/strategic
Location of M-VMS
Spain-DGT
Spain-SCT
France
Italy
Netherlands
?
PICTOGRAM
Situation 1 LOCATION 1 X H YY
ROAD A XX MIN
ROAD A XX MIN
L.1.
EXPECTED TIME
Situation 2 CONGESTION XX KM AWAY
Situation 1 LOCATION 2 X H YY
ALPHANUMERIC
L.2.
ROAD B XX MIN
CITY/EXIT A XX
ROAD B XX MIN
Situation 2 THROUGH TIME X H YY
L.3.
ROAD C XX MIN
ROAD C XX MIN
CITY/EXIT B XX
LATERAL

COMMENTS

• Situation 1
• Inter-urban travel times displayed only in case
  of disruption
• 2 locations max.

Experimental phase both on small pictograms
beside alphanumeric text and on large,
schematic format (cheap GRIPS)
Used either with or without pictogram
Situation 2 Through-time always displayed when
available and gt10min. (See sl. 23) See also sl.
10
MONTPELLIER 0H50
EXAMPLES
ESPAGNE 3H20
C-16 4 MIN


C-58 40 MIN

BOUCHON A 5 KM

TRAVERSEE 0H35