The Effectiveness of Variable Message Signs Information: A Driving Simulation Study

The main objective of this research is to assess the effectiveness of Variable Message Signs (VMS) information during driving. The results show that significant differences in driving conditions occur if the driver does not understand the sign. The related VMS approaching speed decreases more than 5% if the sign is not understood. On the contrary when the driver understands the message the speed profile is almost stable. Moreover the pressure on the accelerator pedal decreases approaching the sign and increases after it when the driver has understood the message, otherwise the pressure on the pedal keeps on decreasing.