Improving Road Tunnel Safety Using ITS

Major accidents in tunnels over recent years have raised the profile of tunnel safety. Various studies have examined contributory factors to incidents; these have predominantly been transposed into the European Directive (2004/54/EC). However, although the use of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) is recommended, there is very little guidance provided on its deployment and/or how to design and implement a safe ITS system. This paper provides an insight into the principles and practice that have been used to specify a variable message sign (VMS) system for Mersey Tunnels (Liverpool, UK). Operational and safety objectives are explored with reference to previous best practice, emerging guidelines and technological and site-specific constraints. The objective of the paper is to provide Tunnel Operators and any tunnel ITS Designer with an insight on how Mersey Tunnels are striving to improve road tunnel safety through the use of ITS.