TRAFFIC PROCESSING ON THE DUTCH A50 MOTORWAY WITHOUT AND WITH ILLUMINATION

DE VERKEERSAFWIKKELING OP DE A50 ZONDER EN MET OPENBARE VERLICHTING

The Dutch Department of Public Works, Directie Oost-Nederland (RWS-ON) took it upon to answer whether the presence of illumination on motorways as compared to motorways without illumination leads to increased utilisation.In 1995, RWS-ON installed illumination along the A50 motorway. As this was known well in advance, a study could be launched whereby the situation before and after the installation could be compared. TNO-INRO was commissioned to answer this utilisation question. The following 'traffic variables' were included in the analyses: capacity, headway, and distribution across the lanes. The only change in the before and after situation was that the right-hand lane was used more after the illumination had been installed and with that the left-hand lane was used less when traffic intensity was lower. It was also shown that: (1) speeds did not change significantly; (2) brief headway did not increase when behaviour was noted; and (3) that the capacity estimator did not indicate any differences. Therefore, the general conclusion may be drawn that illumination does not lead to improved road utilisation under free-flow conditions. (A)

• Corporate Authors:

  TNO INFRASTRUCTUUR, TRANSPORT EN REGIONALE ONTWIKKELING INRO

  PO BOX 6041
  DELFT,   Netherlands  2600 JA
• Authors:
  • VAN DER VLIST, MJM
  • DROPPERT-ZILVER, M N
• Publication Date: 1996-11

Language

• Dutch

Media Info

• Pagination: II+53P
• Serial:
  • Issue Number: INRO-VVG 1996-28

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Before and after studies; Evaluation and assessment; Freeways; Headways; Highway capacity; Night; Physical distribution; Speed; Street lighting; Traffic; Traffic flow; Traffic lanes
• Geographic Terms: Netherlands
• ITRD Terms: 9148: Before and after study; 643: Capacity (road, footway); 9016: Distribution (gen); 9020: Evaluation (assessment); 685: Headway; 545: Lighting (street); 2752: Motorway; 8078: Netherlands; 9052: Night; 5408: Speed; 755: Traffic; 671: Traffic flow; 2827: Traffic lane
• Subject Areas: Freight Transportation; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00767018
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Institute for Road Safety Research, SWOV
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Aug 6 1999 12:00AM