Impact of VMS Route Recommendation on Road Network

The variable message signs (VMS) have been widely used in guiding and managing the dynamic traffic with development of intelligent transportation technologies. It is known that cell transmission model (CTM) can well reproduce such traffic dynamics as shock waves and jams. This paper is novel in simulating the traffic propagations based on CTM and VMS route recommendations. The impacts of VMS on congestion are numerically investigated. Simulation results show that the real-time traffic conditions can well be reproduced. The VMS can positively influence travelers´ decision making so as to alleviate the grave degree of traffic congestion. And further, the higher traffic demands are, the better effect of VMS route recommendation is.