Assessing Effectiveness of Variable Message Signs in DivertingTraffic Using Bluetooth Sensors

Variable Message Signs (VMS) are the most visible Intelligent TransportationSystem (ITS) devices on the road. An important measure of the value of a VMSmessage is its credibility. Correctness, timeliness and usefulness of the messageconstitutes its credibility. It is vitally important that travelers believe that amessage displayed on a VMS is based on facts and describes present roadwayconditions accurately. This paper uses data collected by Bluetooth sensors in orderto assess the quality and effectiveness of the messages displayed on VMS in aselected corridor. Bluetooth sensors take samples of the traveling vehicles and arecapable of providing both travel time and origin destination data on freewaysegments. Results of the analysis for a case study with three messages arepresented. Timeliness and accuracy of the messages are evaluated based on thecollected ground truth data. Drivers’ compliance with is analyzed and reported theVMS messages. Results indicate that Bluetooth sensors are powerful and flexibletools for Variable Message Sign evaluation.

کلیدواژه ها:

Variable Message Sign ، Evaluation ، Traveler Information System ، Bluetooth