Vehicle Type–Specific Headway Analysis Using Freeway Traffic Data

The distribution of time headway has long been a research topic because headway between vehicles is an important flow characteristic affecting safety, level of service, driver behavior, and capacity of a transportation system. However, almost all reported research on headway is focused on mixed vehicular flow without considering the difference in headway with respect to different vehicle types. In this paper, with the use of 1-day freeway traffic data from Interstate 35 in Austin, Texas, four time headway types based on different combinations of leading vehicles and following vehicles—car–truck, truck–car, truck–truck, and car–car—are analyzed at different traffic flow levels. Statistical comparisons between each vehicle type–specific headway and mixed vehicle–type headway are made to verify their significant differences. The paper demonstrates the necessity of vehicle type–specific headway study. The results of the paper not only identify qualitative differences between the vehicle type–specific headways and distributions, but also can be used as a reference for practical applications, especially for improving microscopic traffic simulation models.

• Record URL:
  • https://doi.org/10.3141/2124-22
• Summary URL:
  • http://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=Vehicle+Type%e2%ac%1cSpecific+Headway+Analysis+Using+Freeway+Traffic+Data&author=F.+Ye&author=Y.+Zhang&publication_year=2009
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/9780309142571
• Authors:
  • Ye, Fan
  • Zhang, Yunlong
• Publication Date: 2009

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 222-230
• Monograph Title: Traffic Flow Theory, Characteristics, and Simulation Models 2009
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board
  • Issue Number: 2124
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Freeways; Headways; Traffic data; Traffic flow; Traffic simulation; Travel by vehicle type; Vehicle mix; Vehicle spacing
• Geographic Terms: Austin (Texas)
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; I71: Traffic Theory;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01126653
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 9780309142571
• Report/Paper Numbers: 09-2997
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Apr 17 2009 9:56AM