Best Practices for Road Weather Management Version 2.0

Title:

Signs of Rain

Abstract:

In the Southern Region of the New South Wales Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA), a number of systems have been developed to provide real-time information which can improve road safety by allowing drivers to in some way modify their speed behaviour based on advice on approaching changed road conditions. Such systems use hazard detection devices which continually monitor road conditions to obtain real-time information that can be displayed on dynamic message signs. In 1995 a 12 km network of fibre-optic dynamic message signs was connected to 10 fog detection units and 24 speed detection devices to target individual motorists on the appropriate speed behaviour for the visibility. The RTA's Southern Region has now expanded the use of these signs to provide a changeable sign at a sub-standard curve location where wet weather conditions significantly increases the hazard to motorists. In wet weather and when the pavement is wet, the advisory warning provided to motorists changes to reflect the increased risk at the site . This paper provides information on the development of this system and the behavioural response to motorists to the changed advice for different conditions as they travel through the curve.

Source(s):

8th World Congress on ITS

https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/weather/best_practices/SignsOfRain.pdf

Date: 2001

Author:

Brisbane, Vasiliou

Keywords:

Traveler Information
Dynamic Message Sign (DMS)
Driver behavior
Fog
Speed
Visibility
Motorist warning system

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