16.5.2006 / Laura SundellNational guidelines, Finland

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National guidelines, Finland

Laura Sundell, Mikko Karhunen

Finnish Road Administration

laura.sundell@tiehallinto.fi , mikko.karhunen@tiehallinto.fi

16.5.2006 / Laura SundellNational guidelines, Finland

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VMS in Finland

In early 1980's first single spot electro-mechanical speed limit signs usually near school locations

Year 1994 the first large-scale VMS system including variable speed limit signs and danger warning signs on the road E18 between Kotka and Hamina

Nowadays more than 300 km variable speed limits Examples on variable control systems:

Tunnel control systems Variable control system on highway with lift bridge Variable elk warning system Variable control system on border stations (FIN-RUS)

16.5.2006 / Laura SundellNational guidelines, Finland

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Finnra's Traffic Management Centre VMS on public roads are controlled by Finnra's TMC operators Finnra's TMC is a national organisation with four offices (Helsinki,

Turku, Tampere, Oulu) Other TMC's functions are:

Traffic and road weather conditions monitoring Traffic information distribution Prevention of traffic disturbances in co-operation with other authorities Supporting road maintenance; co-operation with road inspectors and

contractors

16.5.2006 / Laura SundellNational guidelines, Finland

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The Ministry of Transport and Communications Legislation; Road traffic decree

possibility to use inverse colours on danger warning and prohibitory or restrictive signs

no restrictions about the signs that can be made variable Wintertime speed limits

at night even though road and traffic conditions are good, variable speed limit can't be over 80 km/h (in the daytime when road and traffic conditions are good 100 km/h is allowed)

Approval of new pictograms

16.5.2006 / Laura SundellNational guidelines, Finland

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Guidelines on VMS?

Although the history of VMS is relatively long in Finland, there aren’t any detailed guidelines on the use of VMS yet

The implementation of VMS systems have been guided by

1996 Finnra´s policy for experiments and use of VMS

1997,2000: Finnra’s traffic management strategy

1999: Finnra’s policy for variable speed limits 1999: Guidelines for evaluation of variable

speed limits

16.5.2006 / Laura SundellNational guidelines, Finland

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Guidelines on the use of variable speed limits, main principles

The systems should be controlled automatically

Traffic management centres control the systems. Manual intervention is possible.

The systems are controlled according to road condition, weather, traffic situation and incidents

16.5.2006 / Laura SundellNational guidelines, Finland

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Factors influencing the control of variable speed limit

Factor Effect on speed Objective of controlRoadcondition

Lower speed limit in badconditions

To ensure traffic safety

Traffic 1. lower speed limitdue to slow trafficahead

2. lower speed limitdue to high trafficflow

1. to ensure trafficsafety

2. to increase capacity

Incidents Lower speed limit due toaccidents, road andmaintenance works andother incidents.

To ensure traffic safetyand safety at road works

16.5.2006 / Laura SundellNational guidelines, Finland

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Guidelines - coming (1/2)

2006: Finnra's Guidelines for quality and functionality requirements of VMS on public roads (based on EN 12966-1)

Visual performance: Colour classes Luminance Luminance ratio Beam width

Environmental requirements: Temperature Pollution Protection

16.5.2006 / Laura SundellNational guidelines, Finland

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Guidelines - coming (2/2)

2006: Finnra's Guidelines for the use of VMS Design (dimensions, colours,...) Siting (different cross sections, junctions,...) Messages (structure, formulation, languages,...) Common principles for the use (for example what message is shown

in normal situations)