Noise level in the vicinity of signalized roundabouts

The analysis, assessment and estimation of noise levels in the vicinity of intersections is a more complex problem than a similar analysis for roads and streets. This is due to the varied geometry of the intersections, differences in the loads of individual movements, participation of heavy vehicles and mass transport vehicles, as well as the various types of traffic management and traffic control. This article analyses the influence of intersection type and traffic characteristics on the noise levels in the vicinity of classic channelized intersections with signalization, roundabouts and signalized roundabouts. Based on the conducted measurements, it has been established that, with comparable traffic parameters and the same distance from the geometric centre of the intersection, the L_Aeq value for signalized roundabouts is 2.5–10.8 dB higher in comparison to classic channelized intersections with signalization and 3.3–6.7 dB higher in relations to the analysed roundabout. Additionally the differences between L_Aeq levels at individual entries at the same signalized roundabouts may reach the value of approximately 4.5 dB. Such situation is influenced by differences in the intersection geometry, diameter of the intersection’s central island, traffic flow type, traffic management at the entries and traffic volume, especially the amount and traffic movements of multiple axle heavy vehicles. These factors have been analysed in detail in relation to signalized roundabouts in this paper.     

Safety in the road environment: a driver behavioural response perspective

The existing literature on road safety suggests that a driver's perception of safety is an important influence on their driving behaviour. A challenging research question is how to measure the perception of safety given the complex interactions among drivers, vehicles and the road setting. In this paper, we investigate a sample of driver evaluations of the perception of safety associated with a set of typical road environments. A roundabout was selected as the context for the empirical study. Data was obtained by a computerised survey using the video-captured road and traffic situations. A controlled experiment elicited driver responses when faced with a mixture of attributes that describe the roundabout environment. An ordered probit model identified the contribution of each attribute to the overall determination of the perception of safety. An indicator of perceived safety was developed for a number of typical road and traffic situations and for different driver segments.     

Differences in single heavy vehicle crashes at intersections and midblocks

The objective of this research is to identify the factors differentiating between single heavy vehicle collisions at intersections and midblocks by using a binary logit model. Our results show that single vehicle crashes involving heavy vehicle at intersections are more likely to occur on main roads and highways, whereas crashes at midblocks are more likely to occur on divided two‐way roads, roads with special facilities or features (e.g. bridge) and roads with a higher percentage of heavy vehicle traffic. Intersection crashes are also more likely to involve vehicles that are turning left or right, resulting in angle crashes and vehicle overturn, whereas midblock crashes are more likely to involve vehicles on higher posted speed roads. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Impact of heavy vehicles on surrounding traffic characteristics

This work examines the impact of heavy vehicle movements on measured traffic characteristics in detail. Although the number of heavy vehicles within the traffic stream is only a small percentage, their impact is prominent. Heavy vehicles impose physical and psychological effects on surrounding traffic flow because of their length and size (physical) and acceleration/deceleration (operational) characteristics. The objective of this work is to investigate the differences in traffic characteristics in the vicinity of heavy vehicles and passenger cars. The analysis focuses on heavy traffic conditions (level of service E) using a trajectory data of highway I‐80 in California. The results show that larger front and rear space gaps exist for heavy vehicles compared with passenger cars. This may be because of the limitations in manoeuvrability of heavy vehicles and the safety concerns of the rear vehicle drivers, respectively. In addition, heavy vehicle drivers mainly keep a constant speed and do not change their speed frequently. This work also examines the impact of heavy vehicles on their surrounding traffic in terms of average travel time and number of lane changing manoeuvres using Advanced Interactive Microscopic Simulator for Urban and Non‐Urban Networks (AIMSUN) microscopic traffic simulation package. According to the results, the average travel time increases when proportion of heavy vehicles rises in each lane. To reflect the impact of heavy vehicles on average travel time, a term related to heavy vehicle percentage is introduced into two different travel time equations, Bureau of Public Roads and Akçelik's travel time equations. The results show that using an exclusive term for heavy vehicles can better estimate the travel times for more than 10%. Finally, number of passenger car lane changing manoeuvres per lane will be more frequent when more heavy vehicles exist in that lane. The influence of heavy vehicles on the number of passenger car lane changing is intensified in higher traffic densities and higher percentage of heavy vehicles. Large numbers of lane changing manoeuvres can increase the number of traffic accidents and potentially reduce traffic safety. The results show an increase of 5% in the likelihood of accidents, when percentage of heavy vehicles increases to 30% of total traffic. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A cellular automata (CA) model for motorized vehicle flows influenced by bicycles along the roadside

On many urban low‐grade or branch roads, especially in medium or small cities in China, bicyclists and motorists commonly share the non‐barrier road surface. Because bicycles are unpredictable and unstable when moving, motorized vehicles must reduce their speed to safely approach and overtake them. In this study, the gradual deceleration process a motorized vehicle undergoes before it passes a bicycle was analyzed. The motorist was assumed to prefer a comfortable deceleration and to select a higher deceleration rate only when the distance to the bicycle was insufficient to reduce the car's speed to the expected value at a comfortable deceleration rate. Cellular automata (CA) simulations were used to reveal the flow characteristics of motorized vehicles reacting to bicycles traveling along the roadside, and the results show that for the general velocities of motorized vehicles and bicycles traveling on urban branch roads, the road capacity for motorized vehicles is not related to the number of bicycles present. However, the average travel time of motorized vehicles is significantly affected by the presence of bicycles when the number of motorized vehicles on the road is small. In addition, motorized vehicles' average travel time is more influenced by disturbances in the flow of motorized vehicles than by bicycles when the number of motorized vehicles on the road is large. Field observations and surveys were used to validate the traffic behaviors and simulation results. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Including heavy vehicles in a car‐following model: modelling,calibrating and validating

Heavy vehicles influence general traffic in many different ways compared with passenger vehicles, and this may result in different levels of traffic instability. Increases in the number and proportion of heavy vehicles in the traffic stream will therefore result in different traffic flow conditions. This research initially outlines the different car‐following behaviour of drivers in congested heterogeneous traffic conditions indicating the necessity for developing a car‐following model, which includes these differences. A psychophysical car‐following model, similar in form to Weideman's car‐following model, was developed. Due to the complexity of the developed model, the calibration of the model was undertaken using a particle swarm optimisation algorithm with the data recorded under congested traffic conditions. This was then incorporated into a traffic microsimulation model. The results showed that the car‐following perceptual thresholds and thus action points of drivers differ based on their vehicle and the lead vehicle types. The inclusion of the heavy vehicles in the model showed significant impacts on the traffic dynamic and interactions amongst different vehicles. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Agricultural vehicles and sustainable safe road traffic: solving conflicts on arterial highways

Addressing the issues of traffic safety in rural areas presents a constant challenge. The mix of light and heavy vehicles and the considerable differences in speed among these traffic participants result in high risks and delays for the faster vehicles. Agricultural vehicles (AVs) in particular have such an impact on traffic, especially when using arterial highways. This paper reviews the problems of safety and delays that AVs cause on arterial highways, and the appropriate mitigation. The concept of 'sustainable safety' in The Netherlands focuses on these problems, because of the proposed construction of parallel roads alongside all arterial highways. However, Dutch accident statistics cannot justify the high costs for the construction of parallel roads alongside 7000 km of arterial highways. Delays experienced by fast traffic are another reason for separating AVs from other road users with parallel roads. Alternative measures alongside the arterial highway, such as passing bays, restricting AVs to travelling at off-peak only and improving the conspicuity of the AVs, may be more cost-effective ways of reducing delays and/or improving traffic safety on arterial highways. Another solution may be to eliminate the need for AVs to use the arterial highway by altering their routes. For this purpose, land reallocation projects (as practised in Holland) can provide a useful tool.     

道路环境对交通安全的影响及对策

交通安全,涉及到人、车以及道路和环境等很多因素。近年来,因为各种原因使得有关单位以及人员将更多的将精力放在人、车、道路这几个因素上,对道路交通环境没有过多的考虑和研究。深入研究道路交通环境,有利于道路交通的安全,文章通过对其的研究和分析,得出有关道路交通环境对交通安全的影响和解决措施,对于防止道路交通安全事故具有重要意义。同时为人们的生命财产的安全提供保障、对构建社会主义和谐社会具有很大帮助。     

Modelling heavy vehicle car‐following behaviour in congested traffic conditions

This study develops a car‐following model in which heavy vehicle behaviour is predicted separately from passenger car. Heavy vehicles have different characteristics and manoeuvrability compared with passenger cars. These differences could create problems in freeway operations and safety under congested traffic conditions (level of service E and F) particularly when there is high proportion of heavy vehicles. With increasing numbers of heavy vehicles in the traffic stream, model estimates of the traffic flow could be degrades because existing car‐following models do not differentiate between these vehicles and passenger cars. This study highlighted some of the differences in car‐following behaviour of heavy vehicle and passenger drivers and developed a model considering heavy vehicles. In this model, the local linear model tree approach was used to incorporate human perceptual imperfections into a car‐following model. Three different real world data sets from a stretch of freeway in USA were used in this study. Two of them were used for the training and testing of the model, and one of them was used for evaluation purpose. The performance of the model was compared with a number of existing car‐following models. The results showed that the model, which considers the heavy vehicle type, could predict car‐following behaviour of drivers better than the existing models. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A method for relating type of crash to traffic flow characteristics on urban freeways

A method is developed to determine how crash characteristics are related to traffic flow conditions at the time of occurrence. Crashes are described in terms of the type and location of the collision, the number of vehicles involved, movements of these vehicles prior to collision, and severity. Traffic flow is characterized by central tendencies and variations of traffic flow and flow/occupancy for three different lanes at the time and place of the crash. The method involves nonlinear canonical correlation applied together with cluster analyses to identify traffic flow regimes with distinctly different crash taxonomies. A case study using data for more than 1000 crashes in Southern California identified twenty-one traffic flow regimes for three different ambient conditions: dry roads during daylight (eight regimes), dry roads at night (six regimes), and wet conditions (seven regimes). Each of these regimes has a unique profile in terms of the type of crashes that are most likely to occur, and a matching of traffic flow parameters and crash characteristics reveals ways in which congestion affects highway safety.     

Dynamic charging-while-driving systems for freight delivery services with electric vehicles: Traffic and energy modelling

This paper presents a research on traffic modelling developed for assessing traffic and energy performance of electric systems installed along roads for dynamic charging-while-driving (CWD) of fully electric vehicles (FEVs).The logic adopted by the developed traffic model is derived from a particular simulation scenario of electric charging: a freight distribution service operated using medium-sized vans. In this case, the CWD service is used to recover the state of charge of the FEV batteries to shortly start with further activities after arrival at the depot.The CWD system is assumed to be implemented in a multilane ring road with several intermediate on-ramp entrances, where the slowest lane is reserved for the dynamic charging of authorized electric vehicles. A specific traffic model is developed and implemented based on a mesoscopic approach, where energy requirements and charging opportunities affect driving and traffic behaviours. Overtaking manoeuvres as well as new entries in the CWD lane of vehicles that need to charge are modelled according to a cooperative driving system, which manages adequate time gaps between consecutive vehicles. Finally, a speed control strategy is simulated at a defined node to create an empty time-space slot in the CWD lane, by delaying the arriving vehicles. This simulated control, implemented to allow maintenance operations for CWD that may require clearing a charging zone for a short time slot, could also be applied to facilitate on-ramp merging manoeuvres.     

Using vehicle simulations to understand strategies for accommodating oversize,overweight vehicles at roundabouts

There is considerable evidence that roundabouts are the safest and most efficient form of traffic control for most intersections. The potential use of roundabouts with all their inherent benefits may be greatly diminished if they are not able to accommodate oversize/overweight (OSOW) vehicles, sometimes called “Superloads.” The problem, therefore, is how to accommodate OSOW vehicles without sacrificing the integrity, safety and other benefits of roundabouts.This study uses TORUS software to design six standard roundabouts using guidance from the latest Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) roundabout guide. Six OSOW check vehicles from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s library were used to modify the designs to accommodate these selected check vehicles at the roundabouts. These six OSOW check vehicles were used to conduct swept path analysis using AutoTURN software at the selected six standard roundabouts for right turn, through, and left turn simulations. The space requirements for these maneuvers were analyzed in detail. Various strategies for better accommodating these OSOW check vehicles were suggested and experimented with in this study using AutoTURN software simulations. The effectiveness of using a straight passage through the center island for OSOW vehicles was also addressed in this study and was found to be effective. All the strategies investigated in this study proved to be effective in accommodating OSOW vehicles when compared to conventional ways of using a roundabout. The needed total truck apron was calculated and used as a reference to determine an effective strategy for accommodating OSOW vehicles. This research can be used as guidance for transportation engineers, planners and decision makers to determine possible ways of designing a roundabout at an intersection where certain OSOW vehicles are expected.     

Assessing greenhouse gas and related air pollutant emissions from road traffic counts: A case study for Mauritius

The road transport sector is one of the major contributors of greenhouse gases and other air pollutants emissions. Regional emissions levels from road vehicles were investigated, in Mauritius, by applying a fuel-based approach. We estimated fuel consumption and air emissions based on traffic counts on the various types of classified roads at three different regional set ups, namely urban, semi urban and rural. The Relative Development Index (RDI), a composite index calculated from socio-economic and environmental indicators was used to classify regions. Our results show that the urban motorways were the most polluting due to heavy traffic. Some rural areas had important pollution levels as well. Our analysis of variance (ANOVA), however, showed little difference in emissions among road types and regions. The study can provide a simple tool for researchers in countries where data are very scarce, as is the case for many developing countries.     

A new probability statistical model for traffic noise prediction on free flow roads and control flow roads

A new traffic noise prediction approach based on a probability distribution model of vehicle noise emissions and achieved by Monte Carlo simulation is proposed in this paper. The probability distributions of the noise emissions of three types of vehicles are obtained using an experimental method. On this basis, a new probability statistical model for traffic noise prediction on free flow roads and control flow roads is established. The accuracy of the probability statistical model is verified by means of a comparison with the measured data, which has shown that the calculated results of L_eq, L₁₀, L₅₀, L₉₀, and the probability distribution of noise level occurrence agree well with the measurements. The results demonstrate that the new method can avoid the complicated process of traffic flow simulation but still maintain high accuracy for the traffic noise prediction.     

An innovative method for the analysis of vehicle movements in roundabouts based on image processing

The objective of this paper is to propose a method, based on the image processing of field survey data, to analyze vehicles movements into roundabouts. This research study consisted of three stages: a field survey to collect vehicular flow images captured by video cameras, the processing of these images using a proprietary software (VeTRA—Vehicle Tracking for Roundabout Analysis), and finally, the analysis of the collected data. The main feature of the software is that it allows the automatic computation of the main variables necessary to rank and evaluate a generic roundabout: the entry/exit (E/E) matrix with classification of vehicles (e.g., heavy, light, and motorbikes), vehicle trajectories, and vehicular speed diagrams along the paths inside the roundabout. The processing system is robust enough to withstand classic problems affecting image processing such as variable wind conditions, cloud cover, shadows, and obstructions. Calibration and error evaluation have been deduced from data collected by a high precision Real Time Kinematic GPS video recording system mounted on a probe vehicle. Data of E/E matrices generated by VeTRA are compared with those manually counted on the corresponding video images. A case study of an existing roundabout is featured in the paper. The results indicate that the software has a high capability of generating the E/E matrix. The analysis of vehicular trajectories with both the plot of curvature diagrams and the corresponding speed diagrams enable the evaluation of driver behavior relative to the geometric shape of the roundabout. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

基于关联规则的重大道路交通事故影响因素分析

相比于一般交通事故,重大道路交通事故的特征及其影响机理会有所差异,本文旨在研究重大道路交通事故的分布特征及其主要影响因素。收集2014至2018年的重大道路交通事故数据,从驾驶员行为、车辆状况、道路线形和时空分布方面对重大道路交通事故的基本特征进行分析,采用关联规则技术深入挖掘重大道路交通事故多因素的影响机理。从人、车、道路和环境四个方面,重点讨论了重大道路交通事故中的两因素和三因素交互作用的影响机理,并据此提出了针对性的事故预防措施。     

Improving noise assessment at intersections by modeling traffic dynamics

Three families of road noise prediction models can be distinguished. Static noise models only consider free-flow constant-speed traffic with uniformly distributed vehicles. Analytic noise models assume that all vehicles are isolated from one another but account for their mean kinematic profile over the network. Micro-simulation noise models relax the hypothesis of no interaction between vehicles and fully capture traffic flow dynamic effects such as queue evolution. This study compares the noise levels obtained by these three methodologies at signalized intersections and roundabouts. It reveals that micro-simulation noise models outperform the other approaches. Particularly, they are able to capture the effects of stochastic transient queues in under-saturated conditions as well as stop-and-go behaviors in oversaturated regime. Accounting for traffic dynamics is also shown to improve predictions of noise variations due to different junction layouts. In this paper, a roundabout is found to induce a 2.5 dB(A) noise reduction compared to a signalized intersection in under-saturated conditions while the acoustic contributions of both kinds of junctions balance in oversaturated regime.     

Lane-harmonised passenger car equivalents for heterogeneous expressway traffic

In order to account for variations in traffic composition during traffic analysis, passenger car equivalent (PCE) factors are used to convert flow rates of various vehicle classes into flow rates in terms of passenger car units (PCUs). Earlier studies have developed various methods to estimate PCE values but only a few of them are based on uninterrupted traffic flow, particularly for flow regimes with heterogeneous traffic where differential (lower) speed limits are imposed on commercial vehicles. This paper proposes a lane-harmonisation approach, which leverages on the high variation in traffic composition across the lanes, to estimate PCE factors for urban expressways. Multiple linear regression is used and the PCE factors obtained for motorcycles, light goods vehicles, and heavy goods vehicles are 0.65, 1.53, and 2.75, respectively. The estimated capacity flow rate after the application of the obtained PCE factors is around 2200 PCUs per hour per lane.     

Bulk service queues with deviations from departure schedules: The problem of correlated headways

The usual approach to studying bulk service queues is to assume that successive headways are independent. This assumption is frequently violated in systems where vehicles depart according to a fixed schedule, but where deviations from the schedule may occur. A late departure implies there is one long headway followed by a shorter one. This problem is solved exactly using both classical transform techniques and iterative numerical methods. Experiments with the latter approach are presented, and comparisons between the exact results and those obtained by ignoring correlations between headways are performed. The results suggest that upper and lower bounds may be developed using existing results, where the upper bound is accurate in light traffic while the lower bound is accurate in heavy traffic.