SURVEY INVESTIGATES THE RELATIONSHIPS AMONG DESIGN SPEEDS, OPERATING SPEEDS, AND POSTED SPEED LIMITS

The Texas Department of Transportation conducted a nationwide study to identify problems with the relationships among design speeds, operating speeds, and posted speed limits and to solicit possible solutions to those problems. Results showed that the 85 percentile speed is the primary factor used to set a posted speed limit. The rationale behind the 85 percentile speed limit, however, is not well understood by the public or the police. While a ball-bank indicator was the primary method of setting advisory speeds on horizontal curves, a number of respondents voiced concern about its use. Respondents also underscored the belief "that design speed should always exceed or equal expected operating speed."

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/0884612X
• Corporate Authors:

  TranSafety, Incorporated

  P.O. Box 3100
  Sequim, WA  United States  98382-5006
• Publication Date: 1997-11

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures;
• Pagination: p. 4-6
• Serial:
  • TRANSAFETY REPORTER
  • Volume: 15
  • Issue Number: 11
  • Publisher: TranSafety, Incorporated
  • ISSN: 0884-612X

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: 85th percentile speed; Data collection; Design speed; Geometric curves; Highway design; Operating speed; Speed limits; Surveys
• Uncontrolled Terms: Ball bank indicators; Horizontal curvature
• Old TRIS Terms: Highway design speed
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; I21: Planning of Transport Infrastructure; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00745067
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 6 1998 12:00AM