Operating Speed on Suburban Arterial Curves

1997 ◽  
Vol 1579 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kay Fitzpatrick ◽  
C. Brian Shamburger ◽  
Raymond A. Krammes ◽  
Daniel B. Fambro
Keyword(s):  
Curvilinear Relationship ◽  
Horizontal Curve ◽  
Rural Highways ◽  
Horizontal Curves ◽  
Flow Speeds ◽  
Scatter Plots ◽  
Control Section ◽  
Design Speed ◽  
Curve Radius ◽  
Best Fit

Free-flow speeds were collected at both a control section and a curve section at 14 surburban sites with horizontal curves and 10 suburban sites with vertical curves. The scatter plots of the 85th percentile speed versus approach density indicate that when the approach density is between 3 and 15 approaches per km, approach density does not influence speed. Regression analysis indicated that the curve radius for horizontal curves and the inferred design speed for vertical curves can be used to predict the 85th percentile speed on curves for vehicles on the outside lane of a four-lane divided suburban arterial. For horizontal-curve sites, a curvilinear relationship exists between curve radius and the 85th percentile speed. A linear relationship provided the best fit between the inferred design speed and the 85th percentile speed for the vertical curve sites. For the horizontal and vertical curve sites, the speed at which 85th percentile speed becomes less than the inferred design speed is lower for suburban arterials than for rural highways. Drivers on suburban horizontal curves operate at speeds greater than the inferred design speed for curves designed for speeds of 70 kph or less, whereas on rural, two-lane roadways, drivers operate at speeds greater than the inferred design speed for curves designed for speeds of 90 kph or less. For vertical curves, the speeds at which drivers operate greater than the inferred design speed are 90 kph for suburban arterials and 105 kph for rural highways. These results are within 12 kph of the observed 85th percentile speeds on nearby control sections (approximately 80 kph for suburban arterials and 100 kph on rural highways).

scholarly journals Collision prediction on combined horizontal and vertical alignments of two-lane rural highways.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qing Chong You
Keyword(s):  
Associated Factors ◽  
Negative Binomial ◽  
Horizontal Curve ◽  
Rural Highways ◽  
Vehicle Accidents ◽  
Horizontal Curves ◽  
Curve Radius ◽  
Grade Increase ◽  
Minimum Ratio ◽  
Successful Predictor

This study investigates the safety effects of combined horizontal and vertical alignments using accident occurrences on two-lane rural highways in Washington. Eight statistical models were developed to establish the relationships between vehicle accidents and their associated factors for eight combinations of alignments by the Poisson, negative binomial, zero-inflated Poisson, and zero-inflated negative binomial. Three selected models were validated. The findings show that degree of curvature is the most successful predictor for horizontal curves combined with vertical alignments. A minimum ratio of 25 of vertical curve radius to horizontal curve radius is recommended for a curve with radius of smaller than 6000 ft (or 1830 m). Vertical curves have relatively little influence on accident occurrences at horizontal tangents. The grade value and length of a grade increase accident occurrences when a horizontal curve or tangent is on a grade. A smaller curve should be avoided introducing at a steep grade.

scholarly journals Collision prediction on combined horizontal and vertical alignments of two-lane rural highways.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qing Chong You
Keyword(s):  
Associated Factors ◽  
Negative Binomial ◽  
Horizontal Curve ◽  
Rural Highways ◽  
Vehicle Accidents ◽  
Horizontal Curves ◽  
Curve Radius ◽  
Grade Increase ◽  
Minimum Ratio ◽  
Successful Predictor

This study investigates the safety effects of combined horizontal and vertical alignments using accident occurrences on two-lane rural highways in Washington. Eight statistical models were developed to establish the relationships between vehicle accidents and their associated factors for eight combinations of alignments by the Poisson, negative binomial, zero-inflated Poisson, and zero-inflated negative binomial. Three selected models were validated. The findings show that degree of curvature is the most successful predictor for horizontal curves combined with vertical alignments. A minimum ratio of 25 of vertical curve radius to horizontal curve radius is recommended for a curve with radius of smaller than 6000 ft (or 1830 m). Vertical curves have relatively little influence on accident occurrences at horizontal tangents. The grade value and length of a grade increase accident occurrences when a horizontal curve or tangent is on a grade. A smaller curve should be avoided introducing at a steep grade.

Comparison of Radius-Estimating Techniques for Horizontal Curves

2005 ◽  
Vol 1918 (1) ◽  
pp. 76-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul J. Carlson ◽  
Mark Burris ◽  
Kit Black ◽  
Elisabeth R. Rose
Keyword(s):  
Global Positioning System ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Horizontal Curve ◽  
Rural Highways ◽  
Horizontal Curves ◽  
Long Run ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Global Positioning ◽  
Advisory Speed ◽  
Transportation Agencies

Techniques to obtain horizontal curve radii were identified and tested in a controlled experimental study. Ten techniques were identified and pilot tested. Eight of those initial 10 were then used to measure 18 horizontal curves on two-lane rural highways in Texas to evaluate fully their accuracy, precision, cost, ease of use, and safety. Statistically, all eight techniques produced equivalent accuracies, but they displayed a wide range in their precision. The costs varied as a function of the number of times each technique would be used in the field, with those techniques with high initial costs becoming more cost-competitive over the long run with many uses. Ease of use was gauged on the basis of the experience gained during this research. Safety was measured on the basis of whether a technique required personnel on the roadway or roadside or whether it allowed personnel to work from an office or inside a vehicle. The recommendations were based on the expected needs of three different groups that use radii information: transportation agencies, accident investigators, and transportation researchers. Within transportation agencies, engineers and planners in the office will probably benefit most from the plan sheet method, whereas field personnel will probably benefit most from using either the advisory speed or a Global Positioning System (GPS) method. Those who estimate only occasionally, such as accident investigators, will benefit most from the compass method. Finally, researchers or others who may have difficulty accessing plan sheets but still require accurate data will benefit from using a GPS.

Speed Factors on Two-Lane Rural Highways in Free-Flow Conditions

2005 ◽  
Vol 1912 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alberto M. Figueroa Medina ◽  
Andrew P. Tarko
Keyword(s):  
Large Body ◽  
Ordinary Least Squares ◽  
Flow Speed ◽  
Free Flow ◽  
Rural Highways ◽  
Horizontal Curves ◽  
Free Flow Speed ◽  
Flow Speeds ◽  
The Mean ◽  
A Site

The mean free-flow speed and its variability across drivers are considered important safety factors. Despite a large body of research on operating speeds, there is still much to learn about the factors of free-flow speeds, especially on tangent segments of two-lane rural highways. The roadway factors of speed dispersion across drivers are largely unknown. Also, the use of the entire free-flow speed distribution suggested by other authors has not yet been addressed. Consequently, the existing models are not aimed to evaluate the speed variability at a site. This paper presents free-flow speed models that identify factors of mean speed and speed dispersion on tangent segments and horizontal curves of two-lane rural highways. Ten highway variables, six of them functioning as both mean speed and speed dispersion factors, were identified as speed factors on tangent segments. Four highway and curve variables, two of them functioning as both mean speed and speed dispersion factors, were identified as speed factors on horizontal curves. The developed free-flow speed models have the same prediction capabilities as traditional ordinary-least-squares models developed for specific percentile speeds. The advantages of the developed models include predicting any user-specified percentile, involving more highway characteristics as speed factors than traditional regression models, and separating the impacts on mean speed from the impacts on speed dispersion.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Horizontal Curve Radius Effect on Driving Speed in Two Lane Rural Road. Pilot Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 252-270
Author(s):  
Mindaugas Šeporaitis ◽  
Viktoras Vorobjovas ◽  
Audrius Vaitkus
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Prediction Models ◽  
Speed Limit ◽  
Operating Speed ◽  
Horizontal Curve ◽  
Design Standards ◽  
Horizontal Curves ◽  
Road Design ◽  
Driving Speed ◽  
Design Speed

This paper presents a case study of driving speed at horizontal curves in the regional road. The literature review of operating speed at horizontal curves in regional roads expresses the difference between design speed and driving speed. Driving speed was measured in ten horizontal curves on regional road No. 2610. Collected data was compared to the design speed, various design standards, and Operating Speed Prediction Models for traffic in low-volume roads. Based on result analysis, was proposed initial adjusted minimum radius of the horizontal curve based on operating speed. It is justified that proposed corrections based on operating speed ensure a credible speed limit effect on road safety. The performed experiment showed different tendencies comparing measured driving speed with permitted and design speeds. It was determined that dependent on specific curved section drivers tend to exceed posted speed limit from 17% to 98% of cases, and from 41% to 100% − the design speed in the horizontal curve. This research led to identifying the limitations of experimental research methodology. These limitations are related to experimental Site selection with different combinations of alignment elements, traffic, and accident data. A pilot study showed significant results and gave essential insights into the full-scale research plan. The results are expected to benefit both other researchers and the organisations responsible for the development and implementation of normative technical documents for road design.

scholarly journals An Exploratory Analysis of Curve Trajectories on Two-Lane Rural Highways

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 4248 ◽  
Author(s):  
Filomena Mauriello ◽  
Alfonso Montella ◽  
Mariano Pernetti ◽  
Francesco Galante
Keyword(s):  
Driving Simulator ◽  
Driving Behavior ◽  
Ideal Behavior ◽  
Rural Highways ◽  
Horizontal Curves ◽  
Dangerous Behavior ◽  
Normal Behavior ◽  
Surrogate Measure ◽  
Curve Radius ◽  
Dangerous Behaviors

This paper is aimed at obtaining a better understanding of driving behavior on horizontal curves of two-lane rural highways in terms of trajectories in relation to the different curve radii and directions by a driving simulator experiment. The driving simulator experiment involved 50 drivers and eight classes of curve radii, ranging from 125 m to 800 m. Overall, 2000 curve trajectories were analyzed and classified. Six major classes were defined: (1) ideal behavior, (2) normal behavior, (3) driving close to the centerline, (4) driving outside in curve approach, (5) cutting, and (6) correcting. Furthermore, 21 sub-classes were introduced to consider both lane departures and location of the corrective actions. The CATANOVA tests and Bhapkar’s tests showed that both the curve radius and the curve direction had a significant effect on the classification results. To get a clearer understanding of the effect of the curve radius and direction on curve negotiation, three macro-classes corresponding to safe, intermediate, and dangerous behavior were introduced. The safest behaviors significantly increased with the curve radius while the most dangerous behaviors significantly decreased with the curve radius. Furthermore, left curves showed a higher proportion of dangerous trajectories. Overall, it seems that the driving trajectories are a promising surrogate measure of safety as highlighted by the correlation between the trajectories identified as dangerous and the radii of the curves.

scholarly journals Evaluation of design consistency on horizontal curves for two-lane state roads in terms of vehicle path radius and speed

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 127-135
Author(s):  
Biljana Maljković ◽  
Dražen Cvitanić
Keyword(s):  
Horizontal Curves ◽  
Percentage Difference ◽  
Friction Factors ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Design Speed ◽  
Vehicle Path ◽  
Design Consistency ◽  
Side Friction ◽  
Curve Radius ◽  
The Impact

Experimental investigation was conducted on a 24 km long segment of the two-lane state road to collect the driver behavior data. The research involved 20 drivers driving their own cars equipped with the GPS device. Considering the impact of path radius and speed on the side friction demand, the design consistency on horizontal curves was evaluated by determining the margins of safety. The analysis showed that the vehicle path radii were mainly smaller than curve radius, on average for 12%. Regression analysis indicated that the percentage difference between the curve radius and vehicle path radius is not affected by the speed, speed differential and geometric characteristics of the curve and surrounding elements. Two different margins of safety were analyzed. One is the difference between maximum permissible side friction (based on design speed) and side friction demand, while another is the difference between side friction supply (based on operating speed) and side friction demand. Generally, demands exceeded supply side friction factors on curves with radii smaller than 150 m, whereas “poor” conditions (in terms of Lamm’s consistency levels) were noted for curves under approximately 220 m. Both values are very close to the critical radius below which higher accident rates were observed according to several accident studies. Based on the results of the research, it is proposed to use a 12% smaller curve radius for the evaluation of margin of safety and that curves with radii smaller than 200 m should be avoided on two-lane state roads outside the built-up area.

scholarly journals KELIO TRASOS HORIZONTALIŲJŲ KREIVIŲ ĮTAKA TRANSPORTO SRAUTO GREIČIUI / INFLUENCE OF ROAD ALIGNMENT HORIZONTAL CURVE ON TRANSPORT FLOW OPERATING SPEED

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (0) ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Mindaugas Šeporaitis ◽  
Viktoras Vorobjovas
Keyword(s):  
Road Network ◽  
Operating Speed ◽  
Horizontal Curve ◽  
The Road ◽  
Horizontal Curves ◽  
Legal Documents ◽  
Transport Flow ◽  
Design Speed ◽  
Side Friction ◽  
Curve Selection

Geometric parameters of road alignment are fundamental elements defining permissible speed and vice versa. Unlike permissible speed, determined operating speed in upgrade projects has a significant impact on the safe movement of transport on the roads. The article reviews the composition of the regional road network in Lithuania, the design speed, the permitted speed, the practical problems of applying the geometry parameters of the road alignment according to the legal documents valid in Lithuania, methods of horizontal curve selection in Lithuania and other countries are analysed in more detail. Comparative initial calculations of horizontal curves were performed using different side friction coefficients. Review summary of analysis conducted and statements are prepared for discussion.

Safety Evaluation of Geometric Design Criteria: Horizontal Curve Radius and Side Friction Demand on Rural, Two-Lane Highways

2019 ◽  
Vol 2673 (3) ◽  
pp. 516-525
Author(s):  
Scott Himes ◽  
Richard J. Porter ◽  
Ian Hamilton ◽  
Eric Donnell
Keyword(s):  
Negative Binomial ◽  
Negative Binomial Regression ◽  
Geometric Design ◽  
Design Criteria ◽  
Speed Limit ◽  
Horizontal Curve ◽  
Mass Model ◽  
Design Speed ◽  
Side Friction ◽  
Curve Radius

AASHTO’s A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets, 6th Edition, provides design criteria for horizontal curve elements based on the point-mass model. The model equates the centripetal force needed to navigate a horizontal curve of a specific radius traveling at the design speed to the combination of superelevation rate and side friction needed to achieve that force. Few researchers have examined the safety impacts of horizontal curve radius, superelevation rate, and design speed through crash-based research. None of the research reviewed included the effects of design speed or superelevation rate in the crash modification factors (CMFs) or functions. This research explored these factors using a negative binomial regression modeling approach based on data collected from the SHRP 2 RID 2.0 for 889 horizontal curves on rural two-lane highways in Indiana and Pennsylvania, which resulted in roadway departure crash modification functions for horizontal curve radius and side friction demand. The crash modification function for side friction demand includes an interactive component of horizontal curve radius and speed and a direct effect of superelevation rate on roadway departure crashes. The results showed that roadway departure crashes are expected to increase for decreasing curve radius, increasing posted speed limit, and decreased superelevation rate. Furthermore, curve-related CMFs were sensitive to the curve radii used in their development. CMFs developed from curves with larger radii tended to result in larger CMFs. Sample applications are provided for computing the effects of changing the horizontal curve radius, posted speed limit, or both on proposed alternatives.

Assessment of horizontal curves of an existing road using reliability concepts

2005 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 1030-1038 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomás Echaveguren ◽  
Marcelo Bustos ◽  
Hernán de Solminihac
Keyword(s):  
High Impact ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Maximum Speed ◽  
Operating Speed ◽  
Skid Resistance ◽  
Operational Conditions ◽  
Horizontal Curves ◽  
Margin Of Safety ◽  
Design Speed ◽  
Curve Radius

Horizontal curves on road are commonly analyzed under design speed point of view, where it is assumed that the maximum speed of a vehicle in a curve is the design speed. The empirical evidence has demonstrated that when the design speed is low, the operating speed tends to be higher. This happens because of an available remaining lateral (or transverse) friction for speeds over design speed. This condition is determined by a speed limit, obtained from the demand and supply equilibrium of friction of a pavement. The difference between operating and design speeds is usually considered as the margin of safety of a horizontal curve on a road. In this study, a methodology to determine the margin of safety of an existing curve is proposed. The methodology is based on the reliability theory by which reliability of operational conditions can be analyzed by using a reliability index as a margin of safety. A case study for light vehicles is evaluated to determine high impact variables over reliability, such as, macrotexture, skid resistance, curve radius, and superelevation. The results obtained in this study demonstrated that curve radius, skid resistance, and macrotexture are variables with high impact over failure probability. In constrast, superelevation has little effect on the failure probability.Key words: reliability, horizontal curves, operating speed, skid resistance, pavement texture.

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