EFFECTS OF ROAD AND WEATHER CONDITIONS ON TRAFFIC FLOW ON A THREE-LANE RURAL HIGHWAY IN FINLAND

In Finland the first three-lane highway section was opened in 1991. The traffic flow characteristics on this three-lane highway have been observed by comprehensive before-and-after field measurements. Most of the research work has been sponsored by the Finnish National Road Administration. One aim of the studies was to investigate the effects of different road and weather conditions, mainly on the speeds. In the winter the flow rates are lower than in the summer, especially in weekend rush hour traffic. However, the road and weather conditions vary a lot in the winter even if the maintenance is intensified on the three-lane highway. The paper deals mainly with the results from the winter field studies including comparisons with results from the summer measurements. In good winter conditions the mean spot speeds were at the same level as in the summer. The effects of rain or slippery conditions were small but during snowfalls the speeds were significantly lower than in good winter conditions. In daylight the mean speeds on the passing lanes were about 0-25 km/h higher than on the basic lanes. The difference was bigger (0-35 km/h) at low flow rates in dark. During snowfalls the variation in speed differences was slightly bigger than for other conditions, but as a whole the effect of different road and weather conditions were insignificant.

• Corporate Authors:

  PTRC Education and Research Services Limited

  Glenthorne House, Hammersmith Grove
  London W6OL9,   England 
• Authors:
  • ENBERG, A
  • Mannan, S
• Conference:
  • Xth PIARC International Winter Road Congress
  • Location: Lulea, Sweden
  • Date: 1998-3-16 to 1998-3-19
• Publication Date: 1998

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 1019
• Serial:
  • Volume: 3

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Rural highways; Traffic flow; Traffic speed; Weather conditions; Winter
• Uncontrolled Terms: Road conditions
• Geographic Terms: Finland
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00752066
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: Technical Report, Volume 1, Volume 2
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 24 1998 12:00AM