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Federal Highway Administration
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Federal Highway Administration Research and Technology
Coordinating, Developing, and Delivering Highway Transportation Innovations
| REPORT |
| This report is an archived publication and may contain dated technical, contact, and link information |
 |
| Publication Number: FHWA-HRT-16-037 Date: June 2016 |
Publication Number: FHWA-HRT-16-037 Date: June 2016 |
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Active traffic management (ATM) incorporates a collection of strategies allowing the dynamic management of recurrent and nonrecurrent congestion based on prevailing traffic conditions. These strategies help to increase peak capacity, smooth traffic flows, and enhance safety on busy major highways.
This final report describes a series of experiments that developed alternative signs focusing on dynamic lane assignment and variable speed limits and used the deployments in Minnesota and Washington as one of the inputs to sign development. Laboratory and field studies determined both the comprehension of the ATM signs as well as their respective legibility distances. Two driving simulator studies helped determine how motorists respond to these signs in a simulated driving environment.
While this document provides useful information on comprehension, preferences, human behavior, and decisionmaking with regard to ATM signing, the Manual for Uniform Traffic Control Devices provides the official Federal Highway Administration guidance in this area. The report and its findings and recommendations will be of interest to transportation professionals involved in operations, safety, and human factors, as well as others interested in safe and efficient roadway operations.
Monique R. Evans, P.E.
Director, Office of Safety
Research and Development
Notice
This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Transportation in the interest of information exchange. The U.S. Government assumes no liability for the use of the information contained in this document.
The U.S. Government does not endorse products or manufacturers. Trademarks or manufacturers' names appear in this report only because they are considered essential to the objective of the document.
Quality Assurance Statement
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) provides high-quality information to serve Government, industry, and the public in a manner that promotes public understanding. Standards and policies are used to ensure and maximize the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of its information. FHWA periodically reviews quality issues and adjusts its programs and processes to ensure continuous quality improvement.
Technical Report Documentation Page
| 1. Report No.
FHWA-HRT-16-037 |
2. Government Accession No. | 3 Recipient's Catalog No. | ||
| 4. Title and Subtitle
Active Traffic Management: Comprehension, Legibility, Distance, and Motorist Behavior in Response to Selected Variable Speed Limit and Lane Control Signing |
5. Report Date June 2016 |
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| 6. Performing Organization Code | ||||
| 7. Author(s)
William A. Perez, Mary Anne Bertola, and Brian Philips |
8. Performing Organization Report No.
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9. Performing Organization Name and Address Leidos |
10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS) |
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| 11. Contract or Grant No.
DTFH61-08-C-00006 |
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| 12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address
U.S. Department of Transportation |
13. Type of Report and Period Covered
Final Report |
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14. Sponsoring Agency Code HOTO-1 |
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15. Supplementary Notes The Federal Highway Administration Contracting Officer’s Representative was C.Y. David Yang, (202) 493-3284. |
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| 16. Abstract
Active traffic management (ATM) incorporates a collection of strategies allowing the dynamic management of recurrent and nonrecurrent congestion based on prevailing traffic conditions. These strategies help to increase peak capacity, smooth traffic flows, and enhance safety on busy major highways.
This final report describes a series of experiments that developed and tested alternative signs focusing on lane control signs (LCS) and variable speed limit (VSL) signs and used the deployments in Minnesota and Washington as inputs to sign development. Laboratory and field studies determined both the comprehension of the ATM signs as well as their respective legibility distances. Two driving simulator studies helped determine how motorists responded to these signs in a simulated driving environment.
Research results are discussed for the various studies, including legibility distances, driver behavior, speed selection, and visual clutter with respect to the used of the LCS and VSL signs. |
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| 17. Key Words
Active traffic management, ATM, Changeable message signs, CMS, Lane control signs, LCS, Variable speed limits, VSL, Legibility distance, Speed selection, Visual clutter |
18. Distribution Statement
No restrictions. This document is available through the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA 22161. |
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19. Security Classification Unclassified |
20. Security Classification Unclassified |
21. No. of Pages 106 |
22. Price
N/A |
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| Form DOT F 1700.7 | Reproduction of completed page authorized |
SI* (Modern Metric) Conversion Factors
| ATM | active traffic management | |
| CMS | changeable message sign | |
| MM-ALR | Managed Motorways-All-Lane Running | |
| LCS | lane control sign | |
| VSL | variable speed limit | |
| DCZ | data collection zone | |
| FHWA | Federal Highway Administration | |
| GEE | general estimating equation | |
| HOV | high occupancy vehicle | |
| LED | light-emitting diode | |
| MUTCD | Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices | |
| RA | road ahead | |
| ROI | region of interest | |
| STD | standard deviation | |
| LCD | liquid crystal display | |
| RGB | red, blue, green |
