Evaluation of Variable Message Signs Used in Highway Networking

Variable Message Signs (VMS), which is becoming increasingly popular in the highway network, is one of the most important components of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) which are used to provide information to the driver in real time and to manage traffic. VMS is usually mounted on head-mounted pylons, and thanks to graphic-based technology that can display pictures, text and figures via LED display, a lot of messages can be generated. This study is an evaluation study that provides findings for easier understanding of VMS messages to help improve the VMS messages and message display. In the study, the literature on designing and exhibiting VMS messages was examined and current applications were reviewed. In the second stage, a questionnaire survey was conducted on the understanding of the messages in the VMS. The survey is designed to explore the drivers' preferences for three different messages and their text color, use of pictograms, and display of pictograms on VMS. The study findings suggest a set of VMS that drivers can recognize, understand and react to VMS messages more quickly and it is thought that the findings will lead traffic engineers in the message generation phase