scholarly journals Practical Road-Resistance Functions for Expressway Work Zones in Occupied Lane Conditions

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 382
Author(s):  
Chi Zhang ◽  
Jihan Qin ◽  
Min Zhang ◽  
Hong Zhang ◽  
Yudi Hou
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Safety ◽  
Goodness Of Fit ◽  
Traffic Volume ◽  
Work Zone ◽  
Traffic Load ◽  
Work Zones ◽  
Goodness Of Fit Test ◽  
The Road ◽  
Resistance Function ◽  
Critical Traffic

In order to create a practical road-resistance function for work zones under different lane occupation conditions, the expected speed of vehicles was calibrated in the work zone simulation model based on measured data, and simulation models were constructed for the closed half lane and the closed inside lane under different rates of trucks. Based on the statistical theory, the influence of significance of traffic volume and truck ratios for road resistance was analyzed, and a suitable truck ratio was found for the work zone. By using the optimal nonlinear fitting theory, the practical road-resistance function for work zones under different lane occupation conditions was constructed. The results showed that the road resistance is significantly affected by the traffic volume and rate of trucks. Under the same truck ratio, the road resistance linearly increases slowly when the traffic volume is less than the critical traffic volume and rapid increases irregularly when it is greater than the critical traffic volume. Under the same traffic load, the road resistance of the work zone increases with the increase in the rate of trucks, and the difference is not obvious when the traffic volume is less than the critical traffic volume, and increases gradually when it is greater than the critical traffic volume. Through the goodness of fit test and the homogeneity of variance test, the road-resistance function constructed in this paper has high goodness of fit. The practical road-resistance functions constructed in this study could be used to guide the diversion of the rebuilt/expanded highway to ensure traffic safety. Further, the study provides a theoretical basis for the construction of intelligent highway work zones.

scholarly journals Influence Range and Traffic Risk Analysis of Moving Work Zones on Urban Roads

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 4196
Author(s):  
Song Fang ◽  
Jianxiao Ma
Keyword(s):  
Road Traffic ◽  
Scientific Basis ◽  
Traffic Volume ◽  
Work Zone ◽  
Work Zones ◽  
The Road ◽  
Urban Expressway ◽  
The Right ◽  
Operation And Management ◽  
Left Lane

There is a body of literature on the influence range and traffic risk of fixed work zones. However, relatively few studies have examined the effect of ubiquitous moving operating vehicles, such as road cleaners, on urban roads. The influence of low speed moving work zones on road traffic flow and traffic risk is still unclear. In this work, we used simulations to establish an urban expressway three lanes VISSIM model, and selected the road traffic volume and speed of the moving work zone as the independent variables. We analyzed the range of influence of the moving work zone on the rear vehicles in the left, middle and right lanes of the urban expressway and the traffic risk variation law caused by the moving work zone. The results show that the left lane was indirectly affected by the moving work zone when the traffic volume reached 2000 pcu/h. The influence of the moving work zone on the middle lane was controlled by the traffic volume and the speed of the moving work zone. Both the left and middle lanes were mainly impacted by vehicles changing lane from the right lane. Regardless of the traffic volume and the speed of the moving work zone change, the vehicles 200 m behind a moving work zone will be directly affected in the right lane. Furthermore, the average traffic risk is the highest within 50 m of the moving work zone in the right lane. When the traffic volume decreases and the speed of the moving work zone increases, the average traffic risk decreases gradually. These results provide a scientific basis for the operation and management of moving working vehicles on urban roads.

scholarly journals INVESTIGATION INTO TRAFFIC FLOWS ON HIGH INTENSITY STREETS OF VILNIUS CITY

Transport ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 244-251 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Žiliūtė ◽  
Alfredas Laurinavičius ◽  
Audrius Vaitkus
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Safety ◽  
Traffic Volume ◽  
Capital City ◽  
State Enterprise ◽  
Traffic Intensity ◽  
Road Maintenance ◽  
Traffic Flows ◽  
The Road ◽  
Maintenance Program ◽  
Road Research Laboratory

The measurements and analysis of traffic intensity were performed in the capital city – Vilnius, the largest urban area in Lithuania. Vilnius is a centre of business, industry and tourism, and therefore traffic intensity remains the highest in this part of the country. The intensity of vehicle traffic is not only generally calculated but also simultaneously classified which means is divided predefining vehicles into beforehand established categories. Data on traffic flows are used in a road maintenance program for calculating and assessing air pollution, ensuring traffic safety, regulating traffic flows etc. The article presents the methods for measuring traffic intensity which are and were used for calculating traffic intensity not only in the streets of Vilnius but also across Lithuania. Data on vehicle intensity and classification are collected either using technologies (loop and tube detectors, counters and video detectors) or expressing them visually. The article presents the dynamics of changes in the traffic volume on the roads of Lithuania for the period 2000–2009. Also, this article examines traffic intensity of all transport means, including trucks in the permanent traffic volume measuring stations that were installed near the roads in Vilnius zone (data on traffic for the period 2005–2009) and the streets of Vilnius city (data on traffic for the period 2007–2009). Data on traffic intensity were obtained by the Road Research Laboratory of the Road Department of Vilnius Gediminas Technical University in cooperation with the State Enterprise Transport and Road Research Institute (TRRI).

scholarly journals Improved Road Safety at Work Zones using Advanced Traveler Information Systems

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mustafa Suhail Almallah ◽  
Qinaat Hussain ◽  
Wael K. M Alhajyaseen ◽  
Tom Brijs
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Safety ◽  
Driving Simulator ◽  
Work Zone ◽  
Speed Limit ◽  
Work Zones ◽  
Treatment Scenario ◽  
Lane Changing ◽  
Variable Message Signs ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Message Signs

Work zones are road sections where road construction or maintenance activities take place. These work zones usually have different alignment and furniture than the original road and thus temporary lower speeds are adopted at these locations. However, drivers usually face difficulty in adopting the new speed limit and maneuvering safely due to the change in alignment. Therefore, work zones are commonly considered as hazardous locations with higher crash rates and severities as reported in the literature. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of a variable message signs (VMSs) based system for work zone advance warning area. The proposed system aims at enhancing driver adaptation of the reduced speed limit, encourage early lane changing maneuvers and improve the cooperative driving behavior in the pre-work zone road section. The study was conducted using a driving simulator at the College of Engineering of Qatar University. Seventy volunteers holding a valid Qatari passenger car driving license participated in this study. In the simulator experiment, we have two scenarios (control and treatment). The control scenario was designed based on the Qatar Work Zone Traffic Management Guide (QWZTMG), where the length of the advance warning area is 1000 m. Meanwhile, the treatment scenario contains six newly designed variable message signs where two of them were animation-based. The VMSs were placed at the same locations of the static signs in the control scenario. Both scenarios were tested for two situations. In the first situation, the participants were asked to drive on the left lane while in the second situation, they were instructed to drive on the second lane. The study results showed that the proposed system was effective in motivating drivers to reduce their traveling speed in advance. Compared to the control scenario, drivers’ mean speed was significantly 6.3 and 11.1 kph lower in the VMS scenario in the first and second situations, respectively. Furthermore, the VMS scenario encouraged early lane changing maneuvers. In the VMS scenario, drivers changed their lanes in advance by 150 m compared to the control scenario. In addition, the proposed system was effective in motivating drivers to keep larger headways with the frontal merging vehicle. Taking into account the results from this study, we recommend the proposed VMS based system as a potentially effective treatment to improve traffic safety at work zones.

Driver Behavior in Response to Flashing Lights

2019 ◽  
Vol 2673 (5) ◽  
pp. 703-708 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristin Kersavage ◽  
Nicholas P. Skinner ◽  
John D. Bullough ◽  
Philip M. Garvey ◽  
Eric T. Donnell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Driver Behavior ◽  
Sequential Pattern ◽  
Work Zone ◽  
Lane Change ◽  
Work Zones ◽  
The Road ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Right ◽  
Warning Lights ◽  
Current Standards

Flashing yellow warning lights notify drivers about the presence of work along the road. Current standards for these lights address performance of the individual light but not how lights should function when multiple lights are used. In the present study, warning lights were used to delineate a lane change taper in a simulated work zone. Lights flashed with varying intensities and either randomly or in sequence, with lights flashing in turn along the length of the lane change taper, either to the right or to the left. In half of the trials, a flashing police light bar was used on a vehicle located within the simulated work zone. Participants were asked to drive a vehicle approaching the work zone and to identify, as quickly as possible, in which direction the taper’s lane change was (either to the right or left). Drivers were able to correctly identify the taper from farther away when the lights flashed in a sequential pattern than when the flash pattern was random; and the presence of a police light bar resulted in shorter identification distances. The results, along with previous research, can inform standards for the use of flashing lights and police lights in work zones for the safety of drivers and workers.

scholarly journals Comparing Three Lane Merging Schemes for Short-Term Work Zones: A Simulation Study

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rami Harb ◽  
Essam Radwan ◽  
Vinayak V. Dixit
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Safety ◽  
Compliance Rate ◽  
Simulation Models ◽  
Work Zone ◽  
Highway Traffic ◽  
Work Zones ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Management Technology ◽  
Traffic Composition ◽  
Different Levels

Traffic safety and mobility of roadway work zones have been considered to be one of the major concerns in highway traffic safety and operations in Florida. Dynamic lane merging (DLM) systems—ITS-based lane management technology—were introduced by several states in an attempt to enhance both safety and mobility of roadway work zones. Two forms of lane merging, namely, the early merge and the late merge were designed to advise drivers on definite merging locations. Up to date, there are no studies that contrast both merging schemes under matching work zone settings. This study simulates a two-to-one work zone lane closure configuration under three different Maintenance of Traffic (MOT) plans in VISSIM. The first MOT is the conventional plans used in Florida’s work zones, the second MOT is a simplified dynamic early merging system (early SDLMS), and the third MOT is a simplified dynamic late merging systems (late SDLMSs). Field data was collected to calibrate and validate the simulation models. Simulation results indicated that overall, under different levels of drivers’ compliance rate and different percentages of trucks in the traffic composition, the early SLDMS outperformed the conventional MOT and the late SDLMS in terms of travel times and throughputs.

Established Methods of Space between Expressway Work Zones Based on Delay of Expressway

2013 ◽  
Vol 409-410 ◽  
pp. 1374-1378 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ke Man Wu ◽  
Lian De Zhong
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Flow ◽  
Traffic Safety ◽  
Flow Simulation ◽  
Work Zone ◽  
Work Zones ◽  
Traffic Capacity ◽  
Traffic Flow Simulation ◽  
Simulation Based ◽  
Traffic Volumes ◽  
Queue Delay

Via microscopic traffic flow simulation, based on the theory of traffic capacity and queue delay of vehicles on work zones and relying on the Reconstruction and Widening of Fekai Expressway, the paper gives suggested values of minimum space between adjacent work zones in the same direction under different traffic volumes and traffic compositions for references, during the construction of a two-way-8-lane highway with half road way closed. The result can promote work zone traffic safety.

scholarly journals Simulation-Based Analysis of the Effect of Significant Traffic Parameters on Lane Changing for Driving Logic “Cautious” on a Freeway

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (21) ◽  
pp. 5976
Author(s):  
Danish Farooq ◽  
Janos Juhasz
Keyword(s):  
Regression Model ◽  
Traffic Safety ◽  
Traffic Volume ◽  
Lane Change ◽  
Lane Changing ◽  
Safety Issues ◽  
The Road ◽  
Speed Distribution ◽  
On The Road ◽  
High Traffic Volume

Lane changing of traffic flow is a complicated and significsant behavior for traffic safety on the road. Frequent lane changing can cause serious traffic safety issues, particularly on a two-lane road section of a freeway. This study aimed to analyze the effect of significant traffic parameters for traffic safety on lane change frequency using the studied calibrated values for driving logic “conscious” in VISSIM. Video-recorded traffic data were utilized to calibrate the model under specified traffic conditions, and the relationship between observed variables were estimated using simulation plots. The results revealed that changes in average desired speed and traffic volume had a positive relationship with lane change frequency. In addition, lane change frequency was observed to be higher when the speed distribution was set large. 3D surface plots were also developed to show the integrated effect of specified traffic parameters on lane change frequency. Results showed that high average desired speed and large desired speed distribution coupled with high traffic volume increased the lane change frequency tremendously. The study also attempted to develop a regression model to quantify the effect of the observed parameters on lane change frequency. The regression model results showed that desired speed distribution had the highest effect on lane change frequency compared to other traffic parameters. The findings of the current study highlight the most significant traffic parameters that influence the lane change frequency.

scholarly journals Ekspertni pristup poboljšanju sigurnosti u zonama radova na cesti

Sigurnost ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 60 (3) ◽  
pp. 247-260
Author(s):  
Joso Vrkljan ◽  
Miljenko Mustapić ◽  
Antun Štimac
Keyword(s):  
Expert System ◽  
Expert Systems ◽  
Traffic Management ◽  
Work Zone ◽  
Road User ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Road Maintenance ◽  
Work Zones ◽  
The Road ◽  
Road Work

SUMMARY: An ever-increasing volume of traffic on Croatian roads increases the volume of maintenance work. Road works negatively impact traffic mobility and road user safety, and also safety of the maintenance workers. Improving traffic mobility and safety is the key issue that all interested parties (planning and managing road works and those executing them) should address. Mitigation of negative effects is possible via certain expert system measures. Presented in the paper are the options provided by expert systems implemented in the road work zones as factors for improving road maintenance and safe traffic flow, as well as road workers safety. Introducing relevant data into the data base, an expert system is created providing the driver approaching a road work zone with a number of alternative routes. Also shown is a driving diagram for road work zones with special focus on slowing down speed upon entering the road work zone. The results show that the implementation of expert systems based on relevant data would significantly facilitate traffic management in road work zones and improve the safety of traffic and road workers, as well as the workers' efficacy.

scholarly journals Effectiveness Evaluation of Section Speed Control in Czech Motorway Work Zones

Safety ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 38
Author(s):  
Jiří Ambros ◽  
Richard Turek ◽  
Jan Elgner ◽  
Zuzana Křivánková ◽  
Veronika Valentová
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Safety ◽  
Speed Control ◽  
Work Zone ◽  
Normal Operation ◽  
Work Zones ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Average Speed ◽  
Data Source ◽  
Accident Rates ◽  
General Experience

The goal of section speed control is to increase speed limit compliance in the monitored road sections, decrease speed variance and improve traffic safety. General experience with section speed control on motorways is positive, with significant improvements in both speed and safety performance. The presented study focused on a unique application of section speed control in motorway work zones in the Czech Republic. Effectiveness was monitored (in terms of average speed, speeding and accident rates) in three sections and four time periods (normal operation, work zone, work zone with section speed control, normal operation), which allowed discerning individual effects of work zone and section speed control. In addition, a novel data source—floating car data—was used. Work zones were found to increase accident rates compared to normal operation and decrease with the introduction of section speed control. The effects on average speed, speed variance and speeding were positive, although smaller compared to the studies conducted in non-work zone conditions.

scholarly journals Detecting Risk Factors of Road Work Zone Crashes from the Information Provided in Police Crash Reports: The Case Study of Portugal

Safety ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 12
Author(s):  
Bertha Santos ◽  
Valdemiro Trindade ◽  
Cláudia Polónia ◽  
Luís Picado-Santos
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Statistical Analysis ◽  
Police Officers ◽  
Goodness Of Fit ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
Work Zone ◽  
Probit Regression ◽  
Goodness Of Fit Test ◽  
Crash Data ◽  
Road Work

Several studies have shown that European police crash reports provide different detail degrees of work zone crash-related data. In this sense, the present study aims to verify the possibility of identifying significant risk factors involved in the occurrence of road work zone crashes with casualties, based on the official data usually available, through a descriptive, binary logistic, and probit regression statistical analysis. To accomplish the analysis, a total of 2597 police-reports related to 1767 Portuguese work zone crashes that occurred during the 2013–2015 period were considered and binary logistic and probit regression models were estimated by the main type of crash, contributing factor, and driver age group. Fifteen explanatory variables, selected based on the literature review and crash data provided in police crash reports, were considered in the analysis. The results obtained for the estimated coefficients and goodness-of-fit test values were found very similar for both link functions (logit and probit) and it was possible to identify risk factors. The modeling results pointed to excessive speed, disregard for vertical signs, luminosity, intersections, and motorcycle and heavy vehicle involvement as the most significant risk factors. Given the results, it is possible to conclude that binary logistic regression can be used in the statistical analysis of the available police official work zone crash data to identify and get some insight into the risk factors involved in work zone crashes. Data analysis also revealed the need to promote adequate and complete crash report filling by police officers. While police crash reports are not revised and standardized to incorporate more detailed work zone crash information, this approach can be used to support a more efficient road operation decision making and the review of some aspects related to work zone layout design.

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