THE EFFECTS OF SMALL ROUNDABOUTS ON EMISSIONS AND FUEL CONSUMPTION: A CASE STUDY

Intersections on arterials were rebuilt as small roundabouts in a Swedish town with the goal of improving traffic safety. One of the intersections was originally signalized while others were yield-regulated. To measure CO and NOx emissions and fuel consumption before and after the roundabouts were installed, random cars were selected and followed with an instrument-equipped vehicle that tried to imitate the followed car's driving pattern as closely as possible. Results of the study found that CO emissions decreased by 29%, NOx emissions decreased by 21% and fuel consumption by 28% at the roundabout that replaced the signalized junction. At roundabouts replacing yield regulated junctions, CO emissions increased by 4%, NOx emissions by 6% and fuel consumption by 3%. These results indicated that the larger reductions in emissions and fuel consumption at one former signalized intersection can compensate for the increase produced by several yield-regulated junctions rebuilt as roundabouts.

• Record URL:
  http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6VH8-4465FJ5-4/2/5990b9bbfccc15f1166850b4e35ed09e
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/13619209
• Corporate Authors:

  Elsevier

  The Boulevard, Langford Lane
  Kidlington, Oxford  United Kingdom  OX5 1GB
• Authors:
  • VARHELYI, A
• Publication Date: 2002-1

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 65-71
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment
  • Volume: 7
  • Issue Number: 1
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 1361-9209
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/13619209

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air quality management; Arterial highways; Before and after studies; Carbon monoxide; Case studies; Fuel consumption; Nitrogen oxides; Roundabouts; Signalized intersections; Traffic safety; Unsignalized intersections
• Geographic Terms: Sweden
• Subject Areas: Energy; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00821087
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, ATRI
• Created Date: Nov 27 2001 12:00AM