A REVISED METHOD FOR THE DETERMINATION OF PASSENGER CAR EQUIVALENCIES

Two current approaches to determining passenger car equivalencies (PCE), equivalencies of large-size vehicles in terms of passenger cars, are reviewed. The Highway Capacity Manual (HCM, 1965), uses the relative number of passings that would be performed for a unit length of highway if each vehicle (the passing one and the overtaken one) continued at its regular speed. The PCE factor, considered for a traffic stream consisting of passenger cars and one truck, is obtained by the ratio of the number of passings of that truck to that of one car. An approach suggested by Guinn, Reilly, and Seifert (1970) is based on headways of cars and trucks. A revised model for the calculation of PCE is suggested and evaluated. This model considers the actual traffic delays caused by trucks and opposing traffic. Comparison of the new method with the HCM reveals similar main tendencies and fluctuation of PCE values, as a function of level of service and truck speed. For slow truck speeds, however, the values proposed by the new model are significantly lower, reflecting more closely the actual disturbance and delay caused by trucks as well as consideration of traffic in the opposite lane of rural highways.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/09658564
• Corporate Authors:

  Pergamon Press, Incorporated

  Headington Hill Hall
  Oxford OX30BW,    
• Authors:
  • Craus, J
  • Polus, A
  • Grinberg, I
• Publication Date: 1980-8

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 241-246
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice
  • Volume: 14A
  • Issue Number: 4
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 0965-8564
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/09658564

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automobiles; Headways; Heavy vehicles; Level of service; Mathematical models; Methodology; Passenger car equivalence; Passing; Ratios; Rural highways; Traffic delays; Traffic flow; Traffic speed
• Uncontrolled Terms: Models
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00379517
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-030 230
• Files: HSL, USDOT
• Created Date: Nov 30 1983 12:00AM