There is an increase in the deployment of bilingual variable message signs (VMS) for practical and political reasons, such as the co-existence of communities speaking different languages, cross-border traffic, catering for international visitors, and supporting the continued existence of a minority language. Studies have highlighted the potential for driver overload, with safety implications. Increased numbers of lines on VMS for bilinguality have tended to disrupt driver behaviour. The objectives of the Mare Nostrum MN-VMS initiative were to harmonise VMS content in Europe. MN-VMS is focusing on the coordination of pictograms for use in recurrent traffic situations and a standard protocol for layout of text displays. MN-VMS is focusing on maximum use of pictograms and the internationalising of text. The policies adopted in Ontario, Canada for French/English VMS, in Athens, Greece for Greek/English VMS during the 2004 Olympics, in the Republic of Ireland for Gaelic/English VMS, and in Wales for Welsh/English VMS are outlined. The potential problems posed by the need for trilingual VMS are discussed.
Abstract