Electronic road signs play an important role on Tasmania’s roads, helping to keep road users safe and traffic moving efficiently. These signs serve a variety of purposes, from adjusting speed limits and providing live travel updates, to alerting drivers about incidents or changing traffic conditions. By delivering clear, real-time information, electronic road signs help keep road users informed about current road conditions, and help manage traffic flow across the state.
Overhead Traveller Information System
Overhead Traveller Information System signs, also known as variable message signs, are located at several key locations across the Greater Hobart Area and are designed to help road users make decisions about their travel.
The signs show live travel times to key destinations across the greater Hobart area and allow us to provide information to road users about current traffic conditions, or in the event of an incident, alert drivers to changed conditions ahead.
The signs also have cameras and other detectors that provide traffic data and information back to the Traffic Management Centre, allowing us to more effectively manage congestion across the Greater Hobart State Road Network.
The key destinations listed on the signs will always be shown in order, with the closest destinations listed first, as well as the estimated travel time to arrive at the destination based on current traffic conditions.
The travel times are displayed in three colours to help show the level of traffic congestion and expected delay to reach the destination.
- Light traffic (green) - indicates that travel times are close to what is normally expected for that time of day, day of week, and time of year.
- Medium traffic (yellow) - indicates that travel times are a little higher than expected, and some congestion and delays may be encountered.
- Heavy traffic (red) – indicates that travel times are much higher than expected, and heavy congestion and delays will occur.
For information about the installation of the OTIS signs in Hobart, visit the OTIS project page.
Variable speed limit signs
Variable speed limit signs are electronic signs that can change the speed limit depending on the current road conditions.
These signs help keep everyone on the road safe by adjusting the speed limit when needed. This may happen if there is a crash, something is blocking the road, there is heavy traffic, or extreme weather.
In Tasmania, variable speed limit signs are used on the Tasman Highway between Hobart and Mornington, including on the Tasman Bridge.
Electronic speed limit signs
Tasmania also uses electronic speed limit signs in school zones and in some high activity shopping areas. These signs show lower speed limits during times when school children are walking to and from school, and when pedestrian activity in shopping areas is highest, to keep children and other pedestrians safe.
The department is responsible for the control and maintenance of electronic school zone speed signs. Each school sets its own times for the operation of the signs, so the speed zone hours may be different at each location. The times of operation for shopping zone speed limits are set by the relevant Council.
For more information about speed limits and speed limit signs in Tasmania, click here.
Variable Message Boards (VMBs)
Variable Message Boards (VMBs) are portable electronic signs that are generally placed on trailers and may be displayed to inform road users about the details of roadworks, events, or other activities that may impact their travels. They can also provide information about different available travel routes and how to travel through the impacted area safely.
Electronic billboards cannot be placed in the State or local road reservation without written approval from the Department of State Growth and can only be used for traffic management or road safety purposes.
To apply for the use of an electronic billboard at a worksite, visit the Permits and Bookings page here: www.transport.tas.gov.au/road_permits/permits_and_bookings