MEASURING JOURNEY SPEEDS AND FLOWS

The object of the paper is to examine in some detail the relative merits of three methods of measuring journey times (and hence speeds) and volumes over a given length of road. The three methods considered are; the (standard) licence matching method; the moving observer method; the arrival output method. In particular, the effectiveness of the arrival-output method is compared with the more conventional licence matching and moving observer methods. The arrival-output method and its mathematical theory are explained in detail. Data were collected simultaneously by each of the three methods so as to enable a direct comparison of vehicle speeds to be made. It was found that there is relatively little difference in the mean speeds obtained by the three methods, though statistical testing shows the arrival-output method gives far more consistent results than the moving observer method. The cost of both the moving observer and the arrival-output methods are considerably less than the licence matching method. The arrival-output method gives a more accurate value for the mean flow over the period of a survey, and also shows fluctuations which may occur in the flow. /TRRL/

• Corporate Authors:

  University of Leeds

  School of Geography, Woodhouse Lane
  Leeds, West Yorkshire  England  LS2 9JT
• Authors:
  • Garner, J B
  • Parsons, D R
• Publication Date: 0

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 20 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Economic efficiency; Measurement; Methodology; Motor vehicles; Speed; Statistical analysis; Traffic flow; Traffic measurement; Traffic speed; Traffic volume; Travel time; Trip length
• Uncontrolled Terms: Efficiency
• ITRD Terms: 5911: Efficiency; 697: Journey time; 6136: Measurement; 9102: Method; 5408: Speed; 671: Traffic flow; 676: Traffic survey; 8119: United Kingdom
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Economics; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00097819
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• Report/Paper Numbers: R&D Rpt.
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 10 1975 12:00AM