OPERATIONAL EFFECTS OF DRIVEWAY WIDTH AND CURB RETURN RADIUS

Existing driveway standards include independent design controls for throat width and curb return radius. They fail to recognize that these two driveway features may have an aggregate effect on driveway operation. In addition, current standards for driveway width and curb return radius are based primarily on vehicle turning capabilities and do not consider how drivers respond, in terms of speed and path, to various driveway designs. The results of proving-ground studies conducted to evaluate the effects of driveway width, curb return radius, and offset taper approach treatments on the speed and path of drivers entering and leaving driveways are presented. A total of 59 nonprofessional drivers participated in the studies. These motorists, driving an instrumented study vehicle, collectively performed more than 1400 driveway entry and exit maneuvers. Speed and path data were collected for each maneuver and were analyzed to determine the relative performance of 19 driveway design conditions. The studies revealed that current standards for driveway width and radius result in driveway designs that encourage very slow entry speeds and, in many cases, undesirable vehicle paths. Recommendations are presented, based on the study results, for driveway width and radii requirements. The studies also found that offset taper approach treatments do not have a significant effect on entry paths or speeds at driveways. (Author)

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1981/819/819-005.pdf
• Record URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=OPERATIONAL+EFFECTS+OF+DRIVEWAY+WIDTH+AND+CURB+RETURN+RADIUS&author=S.+Richards&publication_year=1981
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309032601
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper appeared in Transportation Research Record No. 819, Operational Effects of Geometrics and Improvement Evaluations. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Authors:
  • Richards, Stephen H
• Conference:
  • 60th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board
  • Location: Washington District of Columbia, United States
  • Date: 1981-1-12 to 1981-1-16
• Publication Date: 1981

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 22-30
• Monograph Title: Operational effects of geometrics and improvement evaluations
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 819
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Curbs; Design standards; Drivers; Driveways; Radius; Reaction time; Speed; Width
• Uncontrolled Terms: Driver reaction
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00348071
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309032601
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Mar 30 1982 12:00AM