Operational experience and further developments of the Midlands Driver Information System

This paper presents an updated view on the operational experience gained from the Highways Agency's Midlands Driver Information System (MDIS). The system provides timely advice to motorists on their best course of action once atypical events have occurred on the network. The first phase of the system was switched on in October 1996. Since that time drivers within the project area have been provided with advice about major incidents and delays. The comprehensive network management system was commissioned in November 1998. This brought additional tools and support to operators whilst also improving the ergonomic ease with which they can interface to the system. Key areas of operational experience are reviewed in this paper; in particular, the ability of a police officer attending an incident to accurately predict its duration and also ensuring that the network's return to normal operating conditions is both correctly and promptly reported. The initial results of the use of this information are presented.