TruckersMP Smart Signs

This article will give you a clear and detailed explanation of the meaning of different overhead traffic signs that you may encounter on the roads! It is always a better driving experience if you understand what these mean, and how to react.

Entering a Smart Sign Area

• Smart Signs will display information that will warn you of approaching hazards or incidents.
• As you approach the area, the smart signs will display information that you must follow.
• Not following information displayed on a smart sign could result in a kick from the server.
• Having entered this area you will notice overhead gantries, where a screen is displayed over each lane.
• These can display varying speed restrictions, approaching lane closures or closed lanes.
• Alongside the screens over each lane you will note there are large message boards, which will display useful information to you about the road conditions ahead.
• If a screen is not in use, you should assume the normal speed limit and that the emergency lane is closed.

Empty Gantry

• All four gantries are not displaying any information about the road ahead, meaning it is safe to continue at the speed limit. The emergency lane is closed to running traffic.
• This means that there are no active incidents ahead, therefore the road should be clear and safe for you to continue driving.

Construction Gantry - Involving all lanes

• These gantries may display maintenance or traffic information relevant to the road you are currently on.
• This image below shows all three lanes open and operating as normal, but with a reduced speed limit of 90km/h.
• This image additionally shows a red cross above the emergency lane, meaning this lane cannot be used nor driven on.
• The large board to the left is displaying a warning message showing that construction is taking place ahead.

Lane closure ahead - Involving different lanes

• This image below shows all three lanes open and operating at different speeds. For example, the main carriageway is limited to 80km/h whilst the slip road ends the restrictions.
• This image additionally shows a red cross above the emergency lane, meaning this lane cannot be used nor driven on.
• The large board to the left is displaying a hazard symbol which indicates there is a lane closure further up the road.

Incident - Approaching the incident

• This image below displays a yellow flashing arrow in the left-hand lane. This indicates you should change from the left lane to the middle lane.
• The arrow displayed means that you should merge as soon as possible (when it is safe).
• This image additionally shows a red cross above the emergency lane, meaning this lane cannot be used nor driven in.
• The large board to the left is displaying a hazard symbol, which indicates there is a lane closure further up the road.

Incident - At the incident

• Three red crosses are being displayed here, meaning only one lane is operational at a reduced speed limit of 50km/h.
• The large board to the left is displaying a roadworks symbol with the text "Roadworks", meaning you are at the roadworks.
• Driving in any of the lanes displaying a red cross is not allowed and could result in a kick from the server, as it is reckless.
• Red crosses are very serious and are displayed if danger is ahead and for your safety & others, you should not drive in these lanes.
• Just because you may not see anything in a closed lane, this doesn’t mean that you can drive in it. Further up there may be a hazard obstructing the lane or a member of staff working under the protection of a red cross.

Incident - End of incident

• You will see either the end of restrictions sign or a speed restriction above the lane, meaning you can use it again.
• The message board will have changed as well, as shown in the image below:

Dynamic emergency lane operating

In this next section, we will look at how the emergency lane may be opened as a driving lane to increase traffic capacity.

• In this image a speed limit is displayed over the emergency lane, meaning you can use this as a driving lane.
• When this is in operation, stopping on the emergency lane is forbidden.
• If you find yourself unable to continue your journey, you should go to the nearest service station by using F7.

• You may find different signs at junctions indicating that you can drive on the emergency lane, instead of merging into traffic. In this case, after the entry slip, the emergency lane may be used. This will be displayed by arrows on the large matrix sign as seen below. Please note that these may vary depending on how many lanes the highway has, but will fundamentally look the same.

Dynamic emergency lane not in operation

• In the image below, you can see that the emergency lane is being closed and therefore,it is directing you to use the main road once again. You should not continue to drive on the emergency lane after this point.

• The emergency lane here is now closed and therefore should only be used in emergencies.

• At junctions, you will be directed to merge into the carriageway as normal, by an arrow clearly showing to join the flowing traffic instead of driving on the emergency lane.

Motorway Closures

This final section shows the different ways in which a motorway can be closed if an incident requires it. Signs will clearly direct you to drive in the correct area.

• Slip roads may be closed from the motorway via the overhead sign shown here. Additional directional arrows may also be used to assist this, so look out for those!

• Should an incident require it, the motorway may be closed from the next exit. Therefore you must leave the motorway when instructed. You will note the addition of the yellow exit now arrows are also displayed above each lane alongside the large matrix display.

• In the unfortunate event that something occurs on the road and the temporary full closure of the motorway needs to occur, you will see the large matrix board stating that you should stop and that the road is closed. This is also shown with the use of the Red X’s across all lanes. It will be considered reckless to pass this and could be punished with a kick.