EVALUATING LOCATION EFFECTIVENESS OF FREEWAY DIRECTIONAL AND DIVERSION SIGNS (ABRIDGMENT)

A model is described which uses gap acceptance concepts and considerations for safe maneuvering to calculate the theoretical probability of completing a lane-change under various traffic flow conditions and to evaluate the effectivenes of various sign locations. A discussion of the model is presented as well as the development of lane-change distance-probability relationship and the effectiveness of location of diversion and directional signs. It is concluded that the probability curves for the distance involved in a lane-change maneuver on a four-lane freeway provide a reasonable measure of effectiveness for the location of a sign. An evaluation of the current practice of locating directional signs reveals that both the 1.6-km and 3.2-km signs are approximately the same in effectivenss. The gain in effectiveness from locating real time diversion signs of 50-cm letter height, 0.4 km (0.25 mile) in advance of the diversion point, is relatively small.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1977/644/644-024.pdf
• Record URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=EVALUATING+LOCATION+EFFECTIVENESS+OF+FREEWAY+DIRECTIONAL+AND+DIVERSION+SIGNS+(ABRIDGMENT)&author=M.+Levin&publication_year=1977
• Availability:
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• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Traffic Flow Theory and Characteristics. 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:
  • Levin, Moshe
• Conference:
  • 56th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board
  • Location: Washington District of Columbia, United States
  • Date: 1977-1-24 to 1977-1-28
• Publication Date: 1977

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 122-124
• Monograph Title: Highway capacity, traffic flow, and traffic control devices
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 644
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Direction signs; Freeways; Lane changing; Lettering; Mathematical models; Measures of effectiveness; Traffic diversion; Traffic flow; Traffic signs
• Uncontrolled Terms: Effectiveness
• Old TRIS Terms: Directional sign; Freeway signs; Letters
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00183556
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309026733
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Dec 3 1978 12:00AM