|
|
|
Travel Time Information
1. Travel Time Information Help
This section details the functionality of the Website and
how to navigate through the site using the many features provided.
2. Travel Time Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
If you are not sure how to find
specific information, the FAQs may be able to help
you. This section contains lots of frequently asked questions by users.
Travel Time Information Help
The
VicRoads Real Time Travel Information website has been designed to enable users
to make informed decisions on travel plans by providing up to the minute
information on road works and road events.
To
help organise the information for the Travel Time Information Website the
screen has been broken up into several parts. Understanding what each of these
parts are for will help you get the most out of
the Website.
The VicRoads Travel Time Information Website front page has been
developed to ensure that you can view maximum information on the one screen.
See Figure 1.1.
Figure 1.1 Website Front Page.
Information
can be accessed using either the Road Map at the centre of the screen or the
Main Menu on the left side of the screen. See figure 1.5.
Figure 1.5 Road Map
All items in
the left menu are split up into levels to ensure that information is easy to
access.
To display
information:
1. Click an item from the Main Menu at level 1
(shown in black). This will reveal a level 2 submenu (shown in dark grey).
2.
Click on a level 2 item sub-menu and it will display
level 3 (shown in light grey) if available.
At
each of the levels more information is displayed on the topic. Level 1 choice’s
will affect the information that is displayed on the map. Freeway travel times
will always remain on the map but additional information will be added and
removed after a Level 1 choice has been made.
Level
1 Menu Choices: Displays major topic headings.
Level
2 Menu Choices: Display extra detail about an item and often will zoom the map
to an effected area rather than a specific location.
Level
3 Menu Choices: Very specific and will give detailed information and a detailed
map on a particular topic.
Zooming
brings an object closer to view to enhance detail and can also pull an item out
to remove detail and view the whole picture. If you want to zoom into the map,
you can use the Main Menu to select the feature you would like to zoom into.
The Road Map will automatically zoom to the relative level.
If
the default zoom level needs to be changed, then there are two options; you can
click on the Zoom In or Zoom Out buttons (see figure 1.7) in order to zoom the
map in/out by a fixed amount. The second option is to click the grey circle
(see figure 1.7) to zoom that fixed level (the green circle indicates the
extent of the current zoom and changes with the map).
Figure 1.7 Zoom Function
You
can shift the screen in any direction by using the Directional Arrows shown in
Figure 1.8 or by clicking on the Road Map.
Clicking
on a location on the Road Map will re-position the map to centre the clicked
point.
Directional
Arrows move the screen a fixed amount in the direction shown by the arrow. If
the button in the centre is clicked the user will be returned to the previous
map.
Figure 1.8 Directional Arrows
Once
a topic has been selected, the information window will update to show more
items that are not able to be displayed on a map (See Figure 1.9); this will
vary from things such as the travel time of certain freeways through to
detailed information on events throughout the network.
Figure 1.9 Information Window
Frequently Asked Questions
2.2 What is the VicRoads Real Time Travel Information
site?
2.4 What browsers are
compatible with VicRoads Real Time Travel Information site?
2.5 How do I check freeway travel times?
2.5.1 How do I check major road travel times?
2.5.2 What do heavy, medium
and light mean in terms of travel time?
2.5.3 Why does the map show sections of heavy and medium travel times, whilst the text below describes everything as light travel times?
2.6 What is a traffic alert?
2.6.1
What is a traffic hazard?
2.6.2 How do I check for traffic alerts and hazards?
2.6.3 What should I do if I
see a traffic alert listed along a road I plan to drive on?
2.7 What is a Variable Message
Sign?
2.7.1 How do I see what is being displayed on VicRoads
VMS?
2.8 What do tow truck allocations show?
2.8.1 Why are tow trucks dispatched?
2.8.2 How can I see if a tow truck
has been dispatched to a crash or traffic hazard?
2.9 What are road works?
2.9.1
How can I check road works on a major road?
2.9.2
How can I check road works on rural roads?
FAQ stands for Frequently Asked Questions. FAQ’s are designed to address the most commonly asked questions regarding a website.
2.2 What is the VicRoads Real Time Travel Information site?
VicRoads Real Time Travel information page has been designed to enable
users to make informed decisions on travel plans by providing up to the minute
information on road information. Using this site you will be able to:
- View travel
time information on Major roads, Freeways and the Western Ring Road;
- View traffic
alerts across the state;
- View all
current “on road” VicRoads road works;
- View the
location of tow truck allocations for the day; and
- View messages on our network of variable message signs.
The main menu can be found on the left hand side of the VicRoads Real Time
Travel Time Information Website. See Figure 2.1.2.
Figure 2.1.2 Main
Menu
2.4 What browsers are
compatible with VicRoads Real Time Travel Information site?
- Internet Explorer Version 5 and higher
- Mozilla FireFox Version 1.50.1
- Apple Safari Version 1.3.2
2.5 How do I
check freeway travel times?
Freeway travel times can be accessed by clicking on Freeway Travel Times on the menu at the left of the screen.
Freeways with available
information will be listed. Select a freeway from the list and it will display
on the map at the centre of screen.
Below the map will be a
table that displays average travel times between points on the freeway, in
minutes, and a general condition of the travel time, Light, Medium or Heavy. This information is displayed
for both Inbound and Outbound CBD traffic. See Figure 2.3.
Figure
2.3 Freeway Travel Times
2.5.1
How do I check
Major Road Travel Times can be accessed by clicking on Major Road Travel Times on the menu at the left of the screen.
Major Roads with available
information will be listed. Select a Road from the list and it will display on
the map at the centre of screen.
Below the map will be a
table that displays average Travel Times between points on the Road, in
minutes, and a general condition of the Travel Time, Light, Medium or Heavy. This information is displayed
for both Inbound and Outbound CBD traffic. See Figure 2.4.
Figure
2.5.2 What do heavy, medium and light mean in terms
of travel time?
Light indicates that travel time will not be held up for longer than 2 minutes.
Medium indicates that traffic
will not be held up longer than 5
minutes however still expect some delay.
Heavy indicates that traffic may be held up for more that 5
minutes duration.
Not Available indicates that there is
no information currently available.
Occasionally there will
be differences between the travel times shown on the default map view and the
text below. This is because the map
shows more detail than the text.
If you click on the map,
to inspect the travel times closer, the text will accurately reflect the travel
times displayed.
A traffic alert is a
message that is published when a traffic hazard has been identified.
2.6.1
What is a traffic hazard?
A traffic hazard is anything that can obstruct a road user or cause potential harm.
In the event of a
substantial traffic hazard, a traffic alert will be issued to let road users
know of a hazard that could impact their journey.
2.6.2
How do I check for traffic alerts and hazards?
Traffic alerts and hazards can be
found by clicking on Traffic Alerts
on the menu to the left of the screen. This will give you a map highlighting
the locations of the alert and hazard with this symbol
Select a traffic alert
symbol from the list and it will display on the map in the centre of the
screen. The text relating to that alert
will then load below the map
2.6.3
What should I do if I see a traffic alert listed along a road I plan to drive
on?
Road users driving through areas where traffic alerts have been issued are advised to take extra precaution when moving through the area.
2.7 What is a Variable
Message Sign?
Variable
Message Signs (VMS) can be found on freeways. They display information messages
to alert drivers of on-road incidences on the road ahead. They are also used to
warn road users about weather conditions and other important information.
2.7.1 How do I see what is being displayed on
VicRoads Variable Message Sign (VMS)?
VMS can be accessed by clicking on Variable Message Signs on the menu at the left of the screen.
VMS with available information will be listed. Select a VMS from the list and it will be displayed on the map in the centre of the screen. The text on the VMS will be displayed below.
2.8 What
do tow truck allocations show?
The
Tow Truck Allocations menu shows if
there has been a crash or a traffic hazard requiring tow truck assistance.
2.8.1 Why are tow trucks dispatched?
Tow
trucks are dispatched in response to traffic hazards and alerts to assist with
clearing vehicles that are no longer functioning. This helps to minimise delays and further hazards
to road users.
2.8.2 How can I see if a tow truck has been dispatched to a crash or traffic hazard?
Tow Truck Information can be found by clicking on Tow Truck Allocations on the menu left
of the screen. A table will be displayed at the bottom of the map listing all
tow trucks that have been dispatched. See Figure 2.7.
For
the purpose of this website, VicRoads defines road works as any work being
undertaken by VicRoads or VicRoads contractors on main roads, freeways and
highways.
2.9.1 How
can I check road works on a major road?
VicRoads
Real Time Travel Information site records all road work activities occurring on
major (arterial) roads. All works will specify a start and end date.
To
access a list of road work activities, click on Roadworks located on the main
menu. This will provide two categories to choose from: Metropolitan and Rural Roadworks. Additional information is also available by
clicking Snow Fields Access. See
Figure 2.8.
Figure 2.8 Roadworks
2.9.2 How
can I check road works on a rural road?
To
find out if there is any roadwork activity occurring on rural roads, click on Roadworks on the main menu located to the left of the
Website. Select Rural Roadworks and select the rural road
you would like information on. A table will be displayed below the map
detailing the type and duration of the activity.
Figure 2.9
Roadwork on Rural Roads
|
|
|
