REDUCING ACCCIDENTS THROUGH SIMPLE RAMP CONTROL
THIS ARTICLE DESCRIBES A SIMPLE CONTROL PROJECT TO REDUCE SHOCKWAVE ACCIDENTS. THESE SHOCKWAVES USUALLY ORIGINATE FAR BELOW THE RAMP'S MERGE AND TRAVEL UPSTREAM. AS THEY TRAVEL UPSTREAM, DRIVERS MUST BRAKE SHARPLY. SOME DRIVERS VEER INTO THE WIDE DIRT MEDIAN, OTHERS SIMPLY HIT THE CAR AHEAD. SEVENTEEN SUCH ACCIDENTS IN ONE STRETCH RESULTED IN THE DECISION TO CLOSE THE ROUTE 113 ON-RAMP AND DIVERT TRAFFIC DURING ALL LATE SKI SEASON SUNDAYS WITH HIGH PEAK FLOWS. THE PROJECT ENGINEER ARRIVES ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF BEFORE THE ESTIMATED TIME OF CLOSURE AND BEGINS MANUAL TRAFFIC COUNTS. DIVERSION IS USUALLY ORDERED AFTER A FEW COUNTS ABOVE 2800 VPH ARE OBSERVED. WEATHER AND SKI CONDITIONS WERE EXCELLENT DURING 1971 AND AT LEAST TEN REPORTED CONGESTION ACCIDENTS, PLUS MANY MINOR UNREPORTED ONES, SHOULD HAVE OCCURRED IF DIVERSION HAD NOT BEEN USED. ONLY ONE REPORTED ACCIDENT DID OCCUR AND IT WAS A MINOR NON-INJURY ONE.
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Supplemental Notes:
- Vol 42, No 4, PP 24-25, 1 FIG, 2 TAB, 1 PHOT
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Authors:
- Threlkeld, T
- ROONEY, F
- Publication Date: 1972-1
Media Info
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Access control (Transportation); Peak hour traffic; Prevention; Ramps; Safety; Shock waves
- Uncontrolled Terms: Access control
- Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00226304
- Record Type: Publication
- Files: TRIS
- Created Date: May 22 1972 12:00AM