PERCEIVED COST AND THE ECONOMY ASPECT OF THE QUALITY OF SERVICE

The perceived cost of congestion is suggested as a measurable substitute for economy. Congestion is defined as a situation when traffic density exceeds 18 vehs/km per lane. The perceived cost of congestion consists of cost of fuel and cost of intangibles. The cost of intangibles is converted into monetary values by means of an exchange rate r. This rate indicates the exchange ratio between fuel and time. (Extensive observations on free-flow speeds revealed that actual values of r are between 5 and 16 litres/h for light vehicles, and between 10 and 45 litres/h for heavy vehicles.) The perceived cost of congestion is the difference between two costs: the perceived travel cost in congested conditions, and the travel cost which would be perceived under the free-flow conditions. It is evaluated from comprehensive traffic observations. Results from the application of this concept to the M2 freeway in Johannesburg show that motorists travelling in four lanes in conditions like those in Johannesburg may incur a cost of congestion amounting to almost half a million rands per kilometre per annum. For the covering abstract of the conference see IRRD 288720. (TRRL)

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Annual Transportation Convention held at Milner Park Showgrounds, Johannesburg 25-29 July 1983, Volume 1.
• Corporate Authors:

  Council for Scientific & Industrial Res S Africa

  P.O. Box 395
  Pretoria,   South Africa 
• Authors:
  • Slavik, M M
• Publication Date: 1983

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: n.p.
• Serial:
  • Issue Number: S316

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Conferences; Costs; Economic impacts; Fuels; Time; Traffic congestion; Travel budgets; Travel costs
• Uncontrolled Terms: Fuel costs
• Geographic Terms: South Africa
• ITRD Terms: 8525: Conference; 632: Congestion (traffic); 224: Cost; 232: Fuel consumption; 2755: Highway; 653: Level of service; 6473: Mathematical model; 2752: Motorway; 221: Operating costs; 8103: South Africa; 5414: Time; 1255: Vehicle
• Subject Areas: Economics; Energy; Finance; Highways; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00471095
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: May 31 1988 12:00AM