Gateway Design Assessment in the Transition from High to Low Speed Areas

Transition zones from high-speed areas to low-speed areas are particularly critical. In this study the effectiveness of 12 gateways located at the entrance and exit of 6 towns aligned along 15 km of a same route was assessed. Gateways varied according to chicane deflection (0°, 3°, 4°), and central island (raised versus ghost). All gateways had dragon’s teeth and an extended town sign. The effectiveness of gateway design has been assessed by before–after analysis of speed parameters and crash statistics, and also by driver’s eye movement analysis. The aims were to assess which components of the gateway were most looked at, how the gateway design could reduce distraction behavior (gaze directed to non-relevant driving targets) and how gaze behavior was related to speed reductions. The comparison of before–after crash data demonstrated the efficiency of the adopted solutions, having obtained a substantial reduction in the number of accidents, injuries and deaths of respectively 50.4%, 61.1% and 100%. The raised island was the most effective element for speed reduction (-7.24 km/h), being also the most seen. The raised island significantly lowered distractions in gaze behavior. The amount of gaze to the gateway components was significantly correlated to speed reduction entering the gateway.

• Record URL:
  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trf.2015.07.017
• Record URL:
  http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1369847815001217
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/13698478
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Abstract reprinted with permission of Elsevier.
• Authors:
  • Lantieri, Claudio
  • Lamperti, Riccardo
  • Simone, Andrea
  • Costa, Marco
  • Vignali, Valeria
  • Sangiorgi, Cesare
  • Dondi, Giulio
• Publication Date: 2015-10

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: References;
• Pagination: pp 41-53
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour
  • Volume: 34
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 1369-8478
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/13698478

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Behavior; Drivers; Eye movements; Gateways; Highway design; Speed limits; Towns
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor; I85: Safety Devices used in Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01582242
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 25 2015 11:24AM