Effects of variable message signs VMS on driving behaviour and traffic safety : a literature survey. On behalf of the Directorate-General of Public Works and Water Management, Transport Research Centre AVV.

This literature review is a part of the TRaffic OPtimisation by the Integration of information and Control (TROPIC) project. The review contains an overview of the existing knowledge on a number of effects of Variable Message Signs (VMSs) on driving behaviour and traffic safety. The report concentrates on the type of information that needs to be displayed, the placement of VMSs in the longitudinal profile, combining several types of signals on one VMS, and signal changes in place and time. Although quite some literature deals with the technical and operational specifications for VMSs, the amount of experimental data on the effect on driving behaviour and traffic safety is rather restricted. Further research is required in order to come to a more extensive fundamental basis for using VMSs. (A)