VMS use during "normal" operations.

[Janko Dialnice]

During my daily commute, I noticed that Massachusetts continuously runs its VMSs, despite the absence of any unusual situations (Amber Alerts, extreme weather, accidents, emergency road work, etc.). During times of normal traffic flow, these signs display safety messages such as "Click It Or Ticket", or "Don't Drink And Drive". I also have noticed that this confuses some out-of-town drivers, like this one person that I was following, who slowed down considerably when he got to the first VMS on US 3 south, coming out of NH. I personally would prefer that the VMSs were turned off when they are not needed.

Do any other states use VMSs in this manner? Is this done because it is easier to change the message rather than powering on/booting the display signs? Does the MUTCD provide any guidance or regulations concerning this?

[1995hoo]

In Florida I saw a lot of them giving time and distance information (e.g., "FL-123, x miles, y minutes"). Maryland does that as well; Virginia was going to start it recently on I-66 (though they weren't displaying this when we went through there late Saturday night). Since September 11 a lot of the VMS signs in the DC area have displayed annoying messages about reporting suspicious activity and giving a phone number.

I've seen VMS signs in the Montreal area displaying "safety" messages of the sort you describe; I recall things like "Keep a safe following distance" and the like, all in French of course.

Some of Virginia's VMS signs need to be active 24/7 to advise of whether certain lanes are open or subject to restriction (HOV facilities), but I think that's probably a different situation.

[agentsteel53]

California does this as well.  "click it or ticket" and the like. 

it would be easy to change the message to a blank, and that wouldn't involve having to power on or off the controller.  (if that's even that big a deal - I get the idea that they don't run windows and therefore boot up in milliseconds.)

[6a]

The ones in Ohio display travel times in the absence of anything emergency-related.  I find it rather useful, because it usually gives options like

Code Select Expand


    MINUTES TO:
I-71      6 MI     11
I-71 ON I670       7


edit: now that I think about it, they always give the travel time.  If there is a missing person or air quality alert or something the signs alternate back and forth between the two messages.

[vtk]

^ that should be:

Code Select Expand


     MINUTES TO:
I-71N      6 MI     11
I-71 ON I-670       7


Apparently they give the travel time to the East Split interchange rather than the West Split interchange because the distance is more-comparable to the distance to the Fort Hayes interchange on I-670.

Also, there must be some accident on the South Innerbelt or something, because the travel times are usually equal.

[shadyjay]

VT has only one permanent VMS and has several portable ones set up along I-89 and I-91.  If they are not displaying any information, they are turned off.  The portable ones are "semi-permanent" and are there to display weather information, primarily during the winter.  I say "semi-permanent" because they are not used for displaying construction information.... if needed, that would be displayed on another portable VMS.

CT only runs their VMSs when there is construction, weather, or traffic information to pass along.  The only exceptions I've seen are during campaigns such as Work Zone Safety Awareness Week (in April) or during times of heavy promotion of seat belt usage, drinking & driving, and such.

[realjd]

Florida displays a mix of travel time to upcoming exits as 1995hoo stated, plus safety notices. "DUI DECIDE BEFORE YOU DRIVE" is one of the more common ones (although it doesn't make sense when you think about it - it makes no statement that you shouldn't drink or drive, only that you should make the decision before you get behind the wheel). I see "CLICK IT OR TICKET" fairly regularly, and "FOR TRAVEL INFO DIAL 511" is common as well. If you're ever curious, fl511.com will let you look at the current message on any VMS sign in the state. Of course around here the most common message is probably a sliver alert for a missing old person.

[Scott5114]

Usually in Oklahoma they'll be left blank if there's nothing going on. Which is the usual situation. What I find more interesting is that Oklahoma's have two flashers at the top of them which I guess are supposed to be used for urgent messages, but are often turned on every time a message is displayed, like "BURN BAN IN EFFECT" that we've been getting lately.

More hilarious is when you drive up to one, see the sign on, and as you get closer see that it says something like "SIGN UNDER TEST". In one case there was one on I-40 that was alternating between "odot sign test" and "ODOT SIGN TEST" several times per second. That was pretty distracting.

[Brandon]

IDOT usually has some stupid message like "Over the limit, under arrest" on the VMSs.  ISTHA posts travel times 24/7 alternating with a message (usually about updating I-Pass).

[roadfro]

In the urban Las Vegas area, NDOT partners with the Freeway and Arterial Systems of Transportation (FAST) (an RTC entity) for operation of ITS devices on the Las Vegas freeways. FAST monitors freeway conditions and operates the VMSs. In the absence of traffic incidents or other important information, FAST displays travel times on any freeway VMSs within the areas that active traffic monitoring has been deployed. Otherwise, the VMSs are usually left blank during normal operation.

In northern Nevada, I believe NDOT operates all VMSs. Generally they are left dark during normal traffic operations. Sometimes, a period or small dot is lit in the lower right hand corner, indicating the unit is on but currently has no message. They have been used to display safety messages as well--this is not done constantly, but around busy holiday weekends and other times when traffic safety campaigns are going on.

[vdeane]

NY sometimes does this.  Sometimes they turn the VMS off.  It's not a regional thing so much as a date thing.  They tend to be left on only during holiday travel times.

[US71]

Missouri does.

Usually Don't Drink & Drive , Watch for Motorcycles, Road Conditions www.modot.org, and a couple others.

Arkansas DID along I-540 when it first opened:

Welcome to I-540 / Bobby Hopper Tunnel  (alternating).

[SteveG1988]

There are two on County Route 541 in Burlington County NJ, right before exit 47 on 295 and exit 5 on the NJ turnpike, they are only turned on when they want to direct people to the fastest route, if the NJTP is slow it will direct you onto 295, if 295 is slow it will reccomend the turnpike

[wh15395]

In Indiana they are usually kept off, but around Indianapolis on Labor Day Weekend they all said, "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over"

[BamaZeus]

the ones in Birmingham will show the travel time to downtown, etc, and I've seen the same in Atlanta.

Our local ones in Tuscaloosa just have a single blinking pixel in the bottom right most of the time, so you know they're still working.  Right now they have local flood info up, since we got inundated with rain the last few days

[agentsteel53]

a single blinking pixel in the bottom right most of the time, so you know they're still working

I think I saw a movie with that basic premise once.

[Dr Frankenstein]

Or 'X'es in the corners like in New York state.

[ftballfan]

In Michigan they display estimated time to certain destinations (like on southbound US-31 just north of the I-96 interchange, the VMS sign lists the estimated travel time to Grand Haven and Coopersville).

[Brandon]

In Indiana they are usually kept off, but around Indianapolis on Labor Day Weekend they all said, "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over"

They did the same stupid message around the Calumet Region as well.  I would've preferred travel times.

[agentsteel53]

if I wanted to get preached to, I'd go to church.

[mtantillo]

I also have noticed that this confuses some out-of-town drivers, like this one person that I was following, who slowed down considerably when he got to the first VMS on US 3 south, coming out of NH. I personally would prefer that the VMSs were turned off when they are not needed.

That doesn't sound like a State DOT problem (they are just trying to promote safety with their signs), that sounds like an "idiot driver problem". 

While I find nag messages annoying, I'd much rather utilize these signs as much as possible, seeing as how they are so expensive to install and wire up to networks, etc.  But some kind of useful information could be displayed....travel times, destination information, etc.

A driver should not slow down when seeing a VMS.  There is no reason to. A state DOT should not not post information just  because a minority of drivers are dumb and slow down. 

[Mr_Northside]

In addition to travel related messages ("Slow Down - Save a Life", "Watch for Motorcycles", etc...), the VMS's around Pittsburgh will occasionally have a "Go Steelers" or "Lets Go Pens" during playoffs.

[mtantillo]

In addition to travel related messages ("Slow Down - Save a Life", "Watch for Motorcycles", etc...), the VMS's around Pittsburgh will occasionally have a "Go Steelers" or "Lets Go Pens" during playoffs.

Now that is totally inappropriate use of VMS's.  Signs supported by Federal tax dollars should not be permitted to advertise for private enterprises such as a sports team.  If they want to have a sign guiding drivers to a generic event ("Football Traffic", "Stadium Event", etc.) that is okay, but posting something that is really no more than an advertising message in a location that could distract drivers is really blatent abuse of traffic control devices, which are to be used for roadway/travel/safety related information only. 

[vdeane]

There are two on County Route 541 in Burlington County NJ, right before exit 47 on 295 and exit 5 on the NJ turnpike, they are only turned on when they want to direct people to the fastest route, if the NJTP is slow it will direct you onto 295, if 295 is slow it will reccomend the turnpike

ON 401 regulates the express/collector system the same way.  Most of the time it's "Express and collector moving well beyond next transfer".

[tdindy88]

In Indiana they are usually kept off, but around Indianapolis on Labor Day Weekend they all said, "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over"

They did the same stupid message around the Calumet Region as well.  I would've preferred travel times.

That is what happens when INDOT actually has "travel time signs," though I have only seen one in operation on the Borman and another on the northside of Indy that isn't working yet, so travel times on the VMSs wouldn't be a bad idea temporarly.