Variable Message Signs (VMS) have been in use on Queensland motorways and freeways for some years, especially within Main Roads' Brisbane Metropolitan District. However, their deployment is in the process of being expanded considerably both on motorways and on arterial roads. This is raising issues about lack of consistency and different needs in different locations, such as arterials compared to motorways and rural use compared to urban use. There is also considerable variation in the way that VMS are currently being used in Queensland. The most obvious variations are in the use of non-traffic/incident management messages and the font being used. The intention of these Guidelines is to provide consistent advice where such consistency is beneficial and to identify aspects for which variations are appropriate. It is believed that this will ensure optimum driver absorption of the messages displayed. As part of the Cooperative Road Management Project (CRMP), development of guidelines for use and operation of VMS was undertaken. These guidelines provide information on a wide range of aspects of the use and operation of VMS. They have been prepared on the basis of a wide-ranging literature search, existing local practice, a workshop and discussions with system managers. This paper provides an overview of the guidelines developed for the use and operation of variable messages signs.
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