Evaluation of the effectiveness of portable variable message signs in work zones in United Arab Emirates

Highway work zones pose a higher risk of crashes due to an increase in the complexity of driving task and driver information. An effective way to impart variable pertinent information to the drivers based on local conditions is the use of variable message signs (VMSs). This study focuses on the effectiveness of portable VMSs (PVMSs) in altering speeds using data obtained during a field deployment, as well as qualitative data from road users and construction workers collected using surveys. Speed, volume, and classification data were collected before and during the installation of the PVMS. A questionnaire was developed related to the PVMS performance, which was used to gauge the perception of drivers and construction workers for the purpose of qualitative analysis. The field data and the survey results were correlated to study the impact of PVMS in reducing the speed of vehicles. The survey results indicated that the drivers as well as the construction workers perceived PVMS to have a positive effect on safety and that PVMS provides reliable information. However, the quantitative analysis of vehicular speeds before and during the installation of PVMS revealed no statistically significant change in speeds.