General criteria for the composition of the messages

• the security of the network is in any case the main objective, even in the information with VMS;

• the messages must provide useful information to best complete in total security one's own travel; therefore, it is necessary to evaluate carefully general messages which, without providing the traveller with any actual contribution, may even represent a source of distraction;

• the messages must first inform the traveller about the consequences on traffic and on the status of the road network which any incident may cause, and then, if necessary, about the incident itself. For example, in case of an accident causing a queue, the information on the queue (the consequence which may cause further accidents) has priority rather than the information on the accident (cause);

• the messages must be easily, clearly and immediately comprehensible for the travellers;

• it is necessary to respect a series of general rules concerning the composition of the messages which enable to distinguish between alert and information messages, courtesy messages and situations of VMSs out of order.

herefore, the following specific basic criteria have been identified

mm:ra • the main source of information is the pictogram, as it is more immediate and intuitive to understand, no matter what language the traveller speaks;

• better to use short words;

• limit the number of words used (max. seven);

• limit the use of prepositions;

• limit the use of abbreviations;

• no use of alternated messages (except for specific cases, exemple cross-border stretch or traffic stoppage);

• limit the use of flashing lamps in some VMSs exclusively to the case of messages informing about dangerous situations close to the VMS itself;

• generally it is better not to use messages with flashing text; such a use should be limited exclusively in case there are no flashing lamps and in case of messages informing about dangerous situations close to the VMS itself; .

• "courtesy" messages should have a different format from the messages informing about events (avoid the use of pictograms in "courtesy" messages, the text should be centred, while in case of messages informing about events the text should appear on the left).

The general format suggested to compose this type of messages looks as follows

VMS IN ITINERE WITH 2 PICTOGRAMS, 3 LINES OF 15 CHARACTERS PICTOGRAM 1 RIGH PICTOGRAM 2 LE

EVENT CAUSE OF THE EVEN

FLASHING

LOCALISATION OF THE EVENT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (LOCALISATION OF THE EVENT/CAUSE OF THE EVENT/RECOMMENDATIONS/ ETC. ON ONLY IN THE VMSs CLOSE TO THE EVEN

VMS IN ACCESS WITH 4 LINE 1

LINES AND 15 COLUMNS

• • • • • LINE 2 EVENT LINE 3 LOCALISATION OF THE EVENT

•• •• •• •••••• • • • • •••

FLASHING ON ONLY IN THE VMSs CLOSE TO THE EVEN

Should it be necessary to indicate the direction in which the event is localised, it is advisable to use the preposition TO in front of the main destination place

"TOil MAIN DESTINATION

mmI • Usually in the text of 3-lines VMSs the 1st line (top) indicates the sentence clarifying the nature of the event, meant as the element influencing traffic and security (e.g. queue, or fog bank); the 2nd and 3'd line usually indicate the localisation of the event (tollbooths, exits, link roads, km, etc.) or the distance in km from the event; the 3rd line, when not used for the localisation, can indicate additional information on the cause of the event ("road works ahead"), driving recommendation ("slow down"), etc.

• The text for this type of messages must be placed on the left. This enables the traveller to read more easily the message.

For VMSs with two pictograms, it is better to indicate as primary the one closer to the text part. The function of the two pictograms is therefore associated with their hierarchy.

.. .. 111111111111111 111111111111111111111111111111

Solutions expressing the localisation of the events

~ • Events in itinere

• Entry events

• Exit events

• Barrier events

• Events on the network junctions (events on links)

PLS NOTE: The examples mentioned in the following pages concern the format of the messages and do not give information on the spreading modalities of VMS information.

Example of an event "in Itinere": QUEUE

INFO TRAFFICO Ou, fA Ok~ DATA lORA

LOCALITA 1

t PER

CODA LOCALITA 1 LOCAllT 1'-, 2

LOCALITA 2 BARRIERA

t

DATA / ORA

LOCALITA 3

t INFO TRAFFICO

DATA/ORA

INFO - TRAFFICO