THE EFFECT OF RAISED PAVEMENT MARKERS ON TRAFFIC PERFORMANCE

This project measured and documented the effect that snowplowable raised pavement markers (SRPM's) have on the behavior of traffic at certain geometric highway conditions. Two lane rural curves, highway exits with deceleration lanes and highway bifurcations were studied. Measures of performance selected to study the effects of the markers were: erratic maneuvers such as cutting through painted gores, weaving between exiting lanes, center and edge line encroachments; point of entrance into deceleration lanes; and mean speeds and speed variance at curves. All types of erratic maneuvers studied were significantly reduced at various sites for traffic volumes up to 500 veh/hr lane. At volumes between 900-1000 veh/hr/lane, the markers had no effect on traffic. Raised markers were not successful in causing motorists to enter deceleration lanes at exits earlier. As far as speeds, the markers seem to have abrupt speed changes. The effect of SRPM's on speed variance was inconclusive. The markers were effective in reducing erratic maneuvers at sites with and without overhead lighting. At one site, a high rate of erratic maneuvers during rain conditions was not only significantly reduced with the placement of markers, but the wet condition EM rate with the markers approached the quality of the dry condition rate. A visual analysis of 15 different layouts of raised pavement markers at exits with deceleration lanes was performed and led to the placement of the devices on the gore at 20 ft., lane lines at 40 ft., and edge lines at 40 ft. spacings. (FHWA)

• Record URL:
  • http://www.nj.gov/transportation/business/research/reports/FHWA-NJ-1983-001-7769.pdf
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  New Jersey Department of Transportation

  1035 Parkway Avenue
  Trenton, NJ  United States  08625

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Mullowney, W L
• Publication Date: 1982-6

Media Info

• Pagination: 60 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Behavior; Curves (Geometry); Deceleration lanes; Drivers; Highway delineators; Highway design; Raised road markings; Rural highways; Traffic speed; Traffic volume; Two lane highways
• Old TRIS Terms: Highway delineation; Raised traffic markings
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00368918
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA/NJ-83/001 Final Rpt.
• Contract Numbers: Study 7769
• Files: TRIS, ATRI, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Jan 31 1983 12:00AM