A variable- (also changeable-, electronic-, or dynamic-) message sign, often abbreviated VMS, CMS, or DMS, and in the UK known as a matrix sign, is an electronic traffic sign often used on roadways to give travelers information about special events. Such signs warn of

traffic congestion Traffic congestion is a condition in transport that is characterized by slower speeds, longer trip times, and increased vehicular queueing. Traffic congestion on urban road networks has increased substantially since the 1950s. When traffic de ...

, accidents, incidents such as terrorist attacks, AMBER/ Silver/ Blue Alerts, roadwork zones, or speed limits on a specific highway segment. In urban areas, VMS are used within

parking guidance and information Parking guidance and information (PGI) systems, or car park guidance systems, present drivers with dynamic information on parking within controlled areas. The systems combine traffic monitoring, communication, processing and variable message sig ...

systems to guide drivers to available car parking spaces. They may also ask vehicles to take alternative routes, limit travel speed, warn of duration and location of the incidents, inform of the traffic conditions, or display general public safety messages.

History

VMS systems were deployed at least as early as the 1950s on the

New Jersey Turnpike The New Jersey Turnpike (NJTP) is a system of controlled-access highways in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The turnpike is maintained by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA).The Garden State Parkway, although maintained by NJTA, is not consi ...

. The NJ Turnpike's signs of that period, and up to around 2012, were capable of displaying a few messages in neon, all oriented around warning drivers to slow down: "REDUCE SPEED", followed by a warning of either construction, accident, congestion, ice, snow, or fog at a certain distance ahead. The New Jersey Turnpike Authority replaced those signs (along with 1990s-vintage dot-matrix VMS systems along the Garden State Parkway) with more flexible electronic signs between 2010 and 2016. The current VMS systems are largely deployed on freeways, trunk highways, or in work zones. On the interchange of

I-5 Interstate 5 (I-5) is the main north–south Interstate Highway on the West Coast of the United States, running largely parallel to the Pacific coast of the contiguous U.S. from Mexico to Canada. It travels through the states of Californi ...

and SR 120 in San Joaquin County, California, an automated visibility and speed warning system was installed in 1996 to warn traffic of reduced visibility due to fog (where tule fog is a common problem in the winter), and of slow or stopped traffic. Message Signs were deployed in Ontario during the 1990s and are now being upgraded on

400-series highways The 400-series highways are a network of controlled-access highways throughout the southern portion of the Canadian province of Ontario, forming a special subset of the provincial highway system. They are analogous to the Interstate Highway ...

as well as two pilot secondary highways in northeastern Ontario.

Technologies and types

Early variable message signs included static signs with words that would illuminate (often using neon tubing) indicating the type of incident that occurred, or signs that used rotating prisms ( trilons) to change the message being displayed. These were later replaced by dot matrix displays typically using eggcrate, fiber optic, or flip-disc technology, which were capable of displaying a much wider range of messages than earlier static variable message signs. Since the late 1990s, the most common technology used in new installations for variable message signs are LED displays. In recent years, some newer LED variable message signs have the ability to display colored text and graphics. Dot-matrix variable message signs are divided into three subgroups: character matrix, row matrix, and full matrix. In a character matrix VMS, each character is given its own matrix with equal horizontal spacing between them, typically with two or three rows of characters. In a full matrix VMS, the entire sign is a single large dot matrix display, allowing the display of different fonts and graphics. A row matrix VMS is a hybrid of the two types, divided into two or three rows like a character matrix display, except each row is a single long dot matrix display instead of being split per character horizontally. Overhead variable message signs are today available in three form factors: front access, rear access, and walk-in. In a front access variable message sign, maintenance is performed by lifting the sign open from the front. Most smaller VMS are of the front access form factor, and are typically installed today on major arterials. The rear access form factor is similar to the front access form factor, except that maintenance is performed from the rear of the sign, and are commonly used for medium-sized dynamic message signs installed along the roadside of freeways (instead of overhead). The walk-in form factor is a more recent introduction, where maintenance on the sign is performed from the inside of the sign. A key advantage of the walk-in form factor is that lane closures are generally not required to perform maintenance on the sign. Most of the largest VMS units installed today are walk-in units, and are typically installed overhead on freeways. The NJ Turnpike Authority counts five unique types of variable message signs under its jurisdiction, at least one of which has been replaced by newer signs. They are: #"REDUCE SPEED" neon signs (1950s-2010, obsolete, have been replaced). #"Changeable message signs" (trilon/ rotating-drum signs that can be used for closing roads or moving traffic to other roadways). #Electronic VMS: signs with remotely controlled messages displayed on them; the messages are sent from the State Traffic Management Center, updating the signs automatically. #Variable speed limit signs - used for varying the posted speed limits within work zones and in emergencies. #Portable VMS: movable "electronic VMS". A portable VMS has much the same characteristics as a fixed electronic VMS, but can be moved from location to location as the need dictates.

Usage

Early models required an operator to be physically present when programming a message, whereas newer models may be reprogrammed remotely via a wired or wireless network or cellphone connection. A complete message on a panel generally includes a problem statement indicating incident, roadwork, stalled vehicle etc.; a location statement indicating where the incident is located; an effect statement indicating lane closure, delay, etc. and an action statement giving suggestion what to do traffic conditions ahead. These signs are also used for AMBER Alert messages, and in some states, Silver and Blue Alert messages. In some places, VMSes are set up with permanent, semi-static displays indicating predicted travel times to important traffic destinations such as major cities or interchanges along the route of a highway. Typical messages provide the following information: *Promotional messages about services provided by a road authority during non-critical hours, such as carpooling efforts, travelers' information stations and

5-1-1 5-1-1 is a transportation and traffic information telephone hotline in some regions of the United States and Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to t ...

lines *Crashes, including vehicle spin-out or rollover *Road Works *Incidents affecting normal traffic flow in a lane or on shoulders *Non-recurring congestion, often a residual effect of cleared crash *Closures of an entire road, e.g. over a mountain pass in winter. *Exit ramp closures * Debris on roadway *Vehicle fires *Wildfires *Short-term maintenance or construction lasting less than three days *Pavement failure alerts * AMBER, Silver, and Blue Alerts, as well as weather warnings via the warning infrastructure of

NOAA Weather Radio NOAA Weather Radio NWR; also known as NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards is an automated 24-hour network of VHF FM weather radio stations in the United States (U.S.) that broadcast weather information directly from a nearby National Weather Serv ...

SAME Same may refer to: *Sameness or identity Places * Same (Homer), an island mentioned by Homer in the ''Odyssey'' * Same (polis), an ancient city * Same, East Timor, the capital of the Manufahi district * Samé, Mali * Same, Tanzania * Same Distri ...

system *Travel times *Variable speed limits *Car park occupancy levels * speed sign, for recommending a speed to approach the next traffic light in its green phase. The information comes from a variety of traffic monitoring and surveillance systems. It is expected that by providing real-time information on special events on the oncoming road, VMS can improve motorists' route selection, reduce travel time, mitigate the severity and duration of incidents and improve the performance of the transportation network. UK traffic sign 6001.jpg, temporary speed limit. UK traffic sign 6003.jpg, Leave motorway at next exit. UK traffic sign 6006.1.jpg, Lane 2 and 3 are closed ahead. UK traffic sign 6006.2.jpg, All 3 lanes closed.* UK traffic sign 6006.3.jpg, Lane 1 is closed ahead UK traffic sign 6006.4.jpg, All 2 lanes closed.* UK traffic sign 6006.5.jpg, Lane 2 is closed ahead UK traffic sign 6006.6.jpg, All 4 lanes closed.* UK traffic sign 6006.7.jpg UK traffic sign 6006.8.jpg, Risk of Ice ahead UK traffic sign 6006.9.jpg, Risk of Fog ahead UK traffic sign 6006.10.jpg, End of temporary restrictions UK traffic sign 6031.1.jpg, Light signal conveying the prohibition that vehicular traffic may not use the lane below the sign (gantry-mounted)* * Do not enter the motorway when the red lamps are flashing in pairs from side to side

Movable versions

Truck-mounted VMSes (also called Portable Changeable Message Signs or PCMS) are sometimes dispatched by highway agencies such as

Caltrans The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is an Executive (government), executive department of the U.S. state of California. The department is part of the Government of California#State agencies, cabinet-level California State Tran ...

to warn traffic of incidents such as accidents in areas where permanent VMSes aren't available or near enough as a preventive measure for reducing secondary accidents. They are often deployed in pairs so that the second VMS truck can take over when the traffic queue overtakes the first truck, requiring the first truck to reposition further upstream from the queue, to be effective. An optional third truck, the team leader, may be utilized for driving by and monitoring the incident itself, traffic patterns and delay times, to make strategic decisions for minimizing delays—analogous to spotter planes used in fighting forest fires. Trailer-mounted variable-message signs are used to alter traffic patterns near work zones, and for traffic management for special events, natural disasters, and other temporary traffic patterns. The messages displayed on the sign can be programmed locally on the unit's control panel, or units equipped with a cellular modem can be programmed remotely via computer or phone. Most manufacturers produce trailers which comply with the

National Transportation Communications for Intelligent Transportation System Protocol The National Transportation Communications for Intelligent Transportation System Protocol (NTCIP) is a family of standards designed to achieve interoperability and interchangeability between computers and electronic traffic control equipment from ...

(NTCIP) which allows the portable trailer to be integrated with an intelligent transportation system. Trailer-mounted VMS can be equipped with radar, cameras, and other sensing devices as part of a smart work zone deployment..

In popular culture

A variable-message sign figures significantly into the plot of the 1991 film '' L.A. Story''.

Gallery

Display Sign on CKE.jpg, A single row matrix LED sign on Katunayake Expressway in Colombo, Sri Lanka Avoid London (2005-07-07).jpg, A three row fixed character matrix LED sign warns "Avoid London - Area Closed - Turn On Radio" following the 7 July 2005 London bombings Verkehrsleitsystem Nuernberg 2.JPG, Europe's largest Dynamic Route Guidance System, in Nuremberg, Germany (hybrid rotating prism and row matrix LED) O-3 variable message system.png, A full matrix multicolor LED variable message sign on the motorway Otoyol 3, Istanbul Shows that Mahmutbey Toll Gates, Bahçeşehir Area and Altınşehir Area's are green. NBTPL-Variable-Board.jpg, A dual row matrix LED sign on National Highway 4, in Bangalore, India VBA A4.jpg, A row matrix LED sign on an interchange of a German Autobahn with side graphics display. Highway 401 digital message sign.jpg, A full matrix sign on Highway 401 in Ontario, Canada Variable message sign with travel times on I-70 West, north of Evergreen, CO.jpg, A full matrix walk-in cabinet LED sign (manufactured by Skyline Products) displaying travel times on Interstate 70 north of Evergreen, Colorado. Road Safety Road Sign.jpg, A dual row matrix LED sign in Manhattan reminding motorists to drive safely 2013-12-28 15 01 10 New variable message sign on northbound Interstate 95 (New Jersey Turnpike) just north of Exit 7A (Interstate 195, Trenton, Shore Points) in Robbinsville Township, Mercer County, New Jersey.jpg, A Daktronics rear access color LED sign on the

displaying a warning about congestion ahead Smart highway signs on Interstate 90 in Mercer Island, Washington.jpg, A set of LED signs on

Interstate 90 Interstate 90 (I-90) is an east–west transcontinental freeway and the longest Interstate Highway in the United States at . It begins in Seattle, Washington, and travels through the Pacific Northwest, Mountain West, Great Plains, Midwest, and ...

in Mercer Island, Washington that warn of an upcoming lane closure due to a collision. Normally, these signs display variable speed limits that are adjusted during rush hour. 日高自動車道日高富川IC付近.jpg, A variable-message sign tells drivers that a section of the Hidaka Expressway in Hokkaido, Japan is damaged after the

2018 Hokkaido Eastern Iburi earthquake An earthquake measuring 6.6 on the moment magnitude scale struck Iburi Subprefecture in southern Hokkaido, Japan, on 6 September 2018 at 3:08 a.m. JST. The earthquake's epicenter was near Tomakomai and occurred at a depth of . The Japan M ...

. COVID-19 NC highway notice.jpg, A sign in Winston-Salem, North Carolina displaying the website for information on COVID-19 in North Carolina. SouthernExpresswayClosed.jpg, Main South Road at the northern end of the Southern Expressway during morning peak (looking south), closed to south-bound traffic. This has now changed.

References

External links

*
Changeable Message Sign Operation and Messaging Handbook
'. Operations Office of Travel Management, Federal Highway Administration, August 2004. Retrieved 2009-12-07.
Chapter 2L: Changeable Message Signs
U.S. Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, 2009 ed. with Revisions 1 and 2. {{Authority control Traffic signs Intelligent transportation system sensor Digital media