CURRENT KNOWLEDGE OF RURAL TRAFFIC BEHAVIOUR

The results of empirical research relevant to two-lane flow are summarised. These are considered as component characteristics, such as desired speed distributions, speed- geometry relations and overtaking gap-acceptance, and the aggregate characteristics as given by speed-flow and capacity. It is shown that there has been a time trend of decreasing coefficient of variation for car desired speed distributions and a general increase in truck speeds. Typical truck power/mass ratios have increased significantly beyond the values assumed in the 1965 highway capacity manual, but there is a lack of recent data relevant to Australian conditions. There is marked variation in overtaking gap-acceptance results reported from different studies, which reflects both the complexity of driver behaviour in overtaking and practical difficulties in the collection and interpretation of overtaking data. Speed- flow relations are found to be very site dependent and can provide only a coarse description of the flow process. Recent estimates of two-lane road capacity suggest total capacities in excess of the 2000 veh/h assumed in the 1965 capacity manual. (TRRL)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0869101277
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Program and papers from Workshop on Rural Traffic Simulation, Vermount South, Victoria, June 2-3, 1983. This paper was presented in Session 1: Rural Traffic Simulation.
• Corporate Authors:

  ARRB

  Melbourne, Victoria  Australia 
• Authors:
  • McLean, J R
• Publication Date: 1983

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 13-36
• Serial:
  • Publication of: Indian Roads Congress
  • Publisher: Indian Roads Congress

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Behavior; Bunching; Conferences; Decision making; Drivers; Gap acceptance; Highway capacity; Layout; Passing; Rural areas; Simulation; Speed; Speed distribution; Traffic flow; Traffic lanes; Trucks; Two lane highways; Vehicle spacing
• Uncontrolled Terms: Two
• Geographic Terms: Australia
• ITRD Terms: 8006: Australia; 9001: Behaviour; 652: Bunching; 643: Capacity (road, footway); 8525: Conference; 2248: Decision process; 1772: Driver; 2885: Layout; 1236: Lorry; 1822: Overtaking; 328: Rural area; 9103: Simulation; 5408: Speed; 671: Traffic flow; 2827: Traffic lane; 9082: Two; 694: Vehicle spacing
• Subject Areas: Highways; Motor Carriers; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; I71: Traffic Theory; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00379173
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• ISBN: 0 86910 127 7
• Report/Paper Numbers: ANALYTIC
• Files: ITRD, TRIS, ATRI
• Created Date: Dec 30 1983 12:00AM