Praktijkonderzoek effecten rijstrookbreedte gebiedsontsluitingswegen (GOW) op rijgedrag
report
The minimum lane width of distributor roads (in Dutch: gebiedsontsluitingswegen GOW) are a concern for the province of Zuid-Holland. In particular since the lineation is regularly crossed by truck drivers. This also counts for car drivers when encountering oncoming trucks. The province of Zuid-Holland therefore wanted to know whether the available space for the road profile (total surface width of ≥7 m) can be better divided by using wider lanes. The province of Zuid-Holland commissioned TNO to conduct an indicative study on lateral placement and speed, which may be the start of a more extensive research program.
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The following research questions are formulated in accordance with the province of Zuid-Holland, to gain insight in the effects of lane width on driving behaviour:
• Which average lateral positions and speeds of vehicles represent small and wide lanes on GOW l, 2x1 and GOW ll?
• Are there significant differences in lateral position and speed of vehicles on small and wide lanes within GOW l, 2x1 roads and within GOW ll roads?
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With the use of video recordings 2 GOW l and 4 GOW ll roads (lane width for both road types are: wide = 3.10 m and small = 2.75 m) are analysed in this study.
This study distinguishes passenger cars and trucks. At GOW ll roads also the presence of oncoming traffic is recorded as independent variable. Beside speed, also lateral position is measured from the left tire to the outside of the centre-lane marking and from the right tire to the outside of the edge-line marking.
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The applied method to analyse driving behaviour with the use of video data is found suitable to measure lateral position and speed of vehicles with sufficient accuracy.
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It seems that on wide GOW l roads car drivers tend to keep more to the right of the middle of the lane, while on small GOW l roads car drivers tend to keep more to the left of the middle of the lane. Truck drivers seem to keep more right to the middle of the lane on both small as well as wide GOW ll roads.
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Car drivers on GOW ll roads seem to keep a fixed distance to the middle lane marking when comparing small and wide lanes. The position of car drivers is being influenced by the presence of oncoming traffic. Car drivers drive the closest to the centre-lane marking when no oncoming traffic is present, and when a encountering an oncoming truck one drives farthest from the centre-lane marking. The most critical scenario for car drivers is when encountering an oncoming truck on a small GOW ll road.
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Truck drivers on GOW ll roads seem to keep a similar position on both small and wide lanes. The position of trucks is not significantly influenced by oncoming traffic. Truck drivers are most likely to cross the right line marking, when a car passes on small GOW ll roads. When looking at the behaviour of up to 85% of the truck drivers, it seems that a truck passing leads to the smallest lateral distance to the right line marking and seems thereby most risky.
This report ends with some recommendations for a more extensive research program and applicable methodology.
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The following research questions are formulated in accordance with the province of Zuid-Holland, to gain insight in the effects of lane width on driving behaviour:
• Which average lateral positions and speeds of vehicles represent small and wide lanes on GOW l, 2x1 and GOW ll?
• Are there significant differences in lateral position and speed of vehicles on small and wide lanes within GOW l, 2x1 roads and within GOW ll roads?
----
With the use of video recordings 2 GOW l and 4 GOW ll roads (lane width for both road types are: wide = 3.10 m and small = 2.75 m) are analysed in this study.
This study distinguishes passenger cars and trucks. At GOW ll roads also the presence of oncoming traffic is recorded as independent variable. Beside speed, also lateral position is measured from the left tire to the outside of the centre-lane marking and from the right tire to the outside of the edge-line marking.
----
The applied method to analyse driving behaviour with the use of video data is found suitable to measure lateral position and speed of vehicles with sufficient accuracy.
----
It seems that on wide GOW l roads car drivers tend to keep more to the right of the middle of the lane, while on small GOW l roads car drivers tend to keep more to the left of the middle of the lane. Truck drivers seem to keep more right to the middle of the lane on both small as well as wide GOW ll roads.
----
Car drivers on GOW ll roads seem to keep a fixed distance to the middle lane marking when comparing small and wide lanes. The position of car drivers is being influenced by the presence of oncoming traffic. Car drivers drive the closest to the centre-lane marking when no oncoming traffic is present, and when a encountering an oncoming truck one drives farthest from the centre-lane marking. The most critical scenario for car drivers is when encountering an oncoming truck on a small GOW ll road.
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Truck drivers on GOW ll roads seem to keep a similar position on both small and wide lanes. The position of trucks is not significantly influenced by oncoming traffic. Truck drivers are most likely to cross the right line marking, when a car passes on small GOW ll roads. When looking at the behaviour of up to 85% of the truck drivers, it seems that a truck passing leads to the smallest lateral distance to the right line marking and seems thereby most risky.
This report ends with some recommendations for a more extensive research program and applicable methodology.
Topics
TNO Identifier
518733
Publisher
TNO
Collation
42 p. (incl. bijlagen)
Place of publication
Soesterberg
Files
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