IN-DEPTH EVALUATION OF FREEWAY MOVING-MERGE SYSTEMS

The report presents the evaluation of the green band and pacer moving-merge systems tested in Woburn, Massachusetts, in 1970. Analyses relative to system effectiveness and use include driver responses obtained from questionnaires, the extent to which ramp drivers use the ramp-side displays, and the effect moving-merge systems have on traffic operations. Questionnaire responses indicate that drivers approved of the moving-merge concept with 70 percent of them finding the systems understandable; this statistic is independent of driver age and type of system. Significantly more drivers using both systems, 70 percent, stated the green band system helps most in merging and is easier to understand and use. Analyses of driver use of the ramp-side, displayed information shows that the probability of a lighted display at a downstream ramp position, conditioned by having one at an upstream position, is significantly greater for the green band drivers. According to the average number of displays viewed per driver, the green band system is used more consistently than the pacer system.

• Corporate Authors:

  Federal Highway Administration

  Traffic Systems Division, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Tignor, S C
• Publication Date: 1974-7

Media Info

• Pagination: 82 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Drivers; Evaluation; Field tests; Freeways; Highway traffic control; Information display systems; Interchange ramps; Merging traffic; Questionnaires; Ramps; Reaction time; Research; Traffic control; Traffic surveys; Urban transportation
• Uncontrolled Terms: Driver reaction
• Geographic Terms: Massachusetts
• Old TRIS Terms: Freeway ramps; Green band system; Pacer system; Traffic control systems
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Research;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00093472
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-RD-75- 58 Final Rpt., FCP22E2-592
• Files: NTIS, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Jan 14 1976 12:00AM