VARIABLE SPEED CONTROL ON FREEWAYS: A REVIEW OF RECENT EUROPEAN EXPERIENCE

In recent years there has been increasing interest in Europe in systems which vary the speed limit on freeways in response to traffic demand. Benefits are claimed in terms of increased traffic throughput and improved safety. Systems of this type have been trialed in the Netherlands and recently on parts of the M25 motorway circling London in the UK. This paper reviews the concepts behind these systems and outlines the types of benefits which could be expected. The paper then examines the operational experience with the systems in the UK and the Netherlands, including plans for a 1997 trial in the latter country. The technical features of the systems are considered including the size of the controlled freeway section, the nature of the control algorithms employed, and the characteristics of the enforcement system . Particular attention is paid to the extent to which rigorous evaluations have been conducted of the systems to measure any benefits which are claimed. The performance of these systems is considered and the paper concludes by highlighting implementation issues which would need to be considered by authorities considering future implementation of variable speed control systems. (a) For the covering entry of this conference, please see IRRD abstract no. 899454.

• Corporate Authors:

  ITS Australia

  ,    
• Authors:
  • ROSE, G
• Conference:
  • INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF ITS AUSTRALIA, 3RD, 1997, BRISBANE, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA
• Publication Date: 1997

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: 16 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Conferences; Demand; Freeways; Intelligent transportation systems; Safety; Speed limits; Traffic congestion; Traffic flow; Travel
• Geographic Terms: Netherlands; United Kingdom
• ITRD Terms: 8531: Case study; 8525: Conference; 632: Congestion (traffic); 285: Demand (econ); 698: Journey; 2752: Motorway; 8078: Netherlands; 1665: Safety; 624: Speed limit; 671: Traffic flow; 8119: United Kingdom
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00764552
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ITRD, ATRI
• Created Date: May 28 1999 12:00AM