EVALUATION OF RAISED PAVEMENT MARKERS FOR REDUCING INCIDENCES OF WRONG-WAY DRIVING (ABRIDGMENT)

In view of the factor that wrong-way drivers must fail to see or properly interpret the directional signs, warning signs, and pavement markings placed in the intersection for their guidance, something beyond conventional devices is obviously needed. A concept that is believed to have merit involves the placement of raised pavement markers on off-ramps in such a configuration that the driver will be alerted as a result of viewing an unexpected phenomenon. The preliminary research reported in this paper was undertaken to determine the efficacy of random configurations of such markers. The investigation was limited to one Interstate interchange, and only an off-ramp under night conditions was considered. The markers, which possess good reflective qualities, were placed to reflect only the light of a vehicle traveling in the wrong direction. Forty-five markers were randomly placed in a section 36.58m (120 ft) long. The results of the investigation showed that the raised pavement marking system was effective in alerting drivers because they viewed an unexpected phenomenon. Also, it was thought that the marking system did help to call attention to the wrong way signs and that it would be effective in causing a wrong-way driver to realize his or her mistake and act accordingly. Based on the findings of this initial work, the system has been implemented at two sites for further study.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1976/597/597-009.pdf
• Summary URL:
  http://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=EVALUATION+OF+RAISED+PAVEMENT+MARKERS+FOR+REDUCING+INCIDENCES+OF+WRONG-WAY+DRIVING+(ABRIDGMENT)&author=F.+Shepard&publication_year=1976
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/03611981
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Traffic Control Devices. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Authors:
  • Shepard, Frank D
• Publication Date: 1976

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Pagination: p 41
• Monograph Title: Traffic control: signals and other devices
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 597
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Drivers; Night; Off ramps; Raised separators; Reaction time; Reflectivity; Road markings; Warning systems; Wrong way driving
• Uncontrolled Terms: Driver reaction
• Old TRIS Terms: Traffic marking
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00149222
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309025664
• Report/Paper Numbers: FCP 42l1024
• Contract Numbers: C-1-12
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Mar 30 1977 12:00AM