Target Completion Date: July 31, 2027 Safety, Operations, and Traffic Engineering
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is exploring the potential of graphical changeable message signs (CMS) to improve driver comprehension and response to roadway information. While traditional CMS rely on text-only messages, advances in display technology now allow the inclusion of graphic symbols and photographic elements. However, limited research exists on how Virginia drivers interpret these graphical formats and whether they offer measurable benefits over standard text-based messages.
This study will evaluate the effectiveness of graphical CMS designs in supporting driver comprehension and safe decision-making through a combination of carefully designed surveys and driving simulator experiments. An early focus of the project will be the evaluation of CMS messages developed for the Targeted Over-Height Vehicle Warning CMS system at the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel (HRBT), which includes the novel feature of displaying photo of the detected over-height vehicles. This effort supports VDOT’s Request to Experiment submitted to FHWA.
The study will use interstate incident management as its primary case study. Results will provide VDOT with actionable guidance on the design and deployment of graphical CMS, support potential updates to statewide messaging policies, and inform future pilot projects or experimentation initiatives.
Last updated: June 10, 2025
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