Statistical analysis on highway traffic redistribution in response to dynamic message sign messages.

摘要

Dynamic Message Signs (DMS) bring forth various capabilities. Traffic management agencies and the traveling public have high hopes and continue investing in DMS, yet little has been done to measure impacts/benefits of DMS in a quantitative manner. This analysis applies a systematic and rigorous statistical approach to investigate relations between DMS message presence and traffic redistribution and confirms several hypotheses that have always been postulated but yet to be proven. Research results found no evidence exists that DMS bring forth compelling influence on traffic flow re-distribution with mixed results at different locations, implying that other site-specific factors other traveler information sources playing a substantial role in the diversion decision making process. However, more research is needed in order to understand the contributions of DMS from a traffic management perspective.