Speed harmonization (also known as variable speed limits in the US) has been use

d in the Netherlands and Germany since the 1970s, where it is typically implemen
ted on roadways with high traffic volumes, with a goal of improving traffic flow
. In the Netherlands, speed harmonization has been used for many years for the p
urposes of creating more uniform travel speeds and managing traffic during adver
se weather conditions. Lane control displays are used for mitigation of incident
s, maintenance and construction. In Germany, approximately 200km (124 miles) of
roadway are managed using speed harmonization and lane control. In Denmark, spee
d harmonization, also referred to as variable speed limits, is deployed to manag
e construction project-related congestion on the ring road around Copenhagen.
Lane control displays provide the flexibility to help manage incidents or addres
s maintenance activities. When congestion is present, the speed limit is dynamic
ally adjusted and displayed. When an incident occurs, a lane may be closed by sh
owing a red X . Advance notice of an incident is usually provided by indicating to
motorists that they should switch out of that lane. This is typically done by us
ing a diagonal arrow pointing to a neighboring lane. In the Netherlands, when an
incident occurs, they use a cocked arrow, followed by a red X to move drivers out
of the lane. On the M42 motorway in the UK, lane control displays are typically
enabled for four gantries upstream from the closure or incident, with the first
indication being a reduction in standard operating speed, the second a further
reduction in speed, and the following two gantries using cocked arrows to move d
rivers out of a closed lane(s).
Critical to success of speed harmonization is the traveler s trust in the real-tim
e operation of the system, including how it is being operated, its reliability,
and the sense that it is being implemented for a valid purpose that will result
in true safety and travel time benefits. Hence traveler information and in many
cases queue warning are treated as crucial components for maximizing effectivene
ss of this technique. Operating the system on a 24/7 basis also generates public
trust in the system whenever conditions warrant, and these conditions do not ne
cessarily mean 24/7 staffing of the operation center.