Variable message boards on roads across the country must be used better in severe weather, according to a politician.
Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP Liz Smith claims that the electronic signs, which flash up safety messages and traffic updates, are not providing accurate information.
“In recent weeks, questions have been raised about just how accurate and up-to-date some gantry signs are,” she said.
“For example, last week, when freezing fog was a serious issue on the Forth Road Bridge, the gantry sign on the southbound carriageway, just a mile away from the fog, was reading ‘winter weather, plan ahead’ and, unbelievably, in the middle of one of the worst white-outs of the winter, one sign was telling motorists to consider cycling as an alternative to car travel!
“We need to redress this matter urgently and that is why I have laid some parliamentary questions on this issue.”
Underlining the importance of variable message signs being accurate, a survey carried out on behalf of the Scottish Government revealed that motorists placed a lot of trust in the information they display.
Respondents had stated that they felt they were trustworthy, up-to-date and that they would like to see more on roads across the country.
On their website, Traffic Scotland says it has already introduced a “refreshed” set of background messages recently, together with a “smarter” method of deploying them to signs, following a consultation with professional bodies and other groups.
It states, “The review of the background messages was to make them more varied and also more relevant to the time or location that they are displayed.
“For example, it is not helpful to tell drivers that are stopped in a traffic queue to ‘watch your speed’.”
It adds, “The messages, therefore, are targeted so that they are relevant to the geographic location of the road, the type of road, seasonal variations, traffic congestion, tourism, public transport availability and so on.”