ANALYSIS OF WINTER TRAVEL SPEED IN PASS SECTIONS IN HOKKAIDO

This paper describes how traffic conditions on winter roads in cold snowy regions are very severe because of the restricted visibility, the deterioration of surface conditions and the narrowed road width, all of which are caused by heavy snowfall and snow accumulation. On pass sections where horizontal and vertical alignments other conditions are unfavorable, driver are forced to travel under particularly sever weather conditions. Safety and reliability of road traffic on pass sections are greatly impaired, and the traffic volume in winter is much less than in summer on some routes that include pass sections. Pass sections are parts arterial roads that connect municipalities; thus, deterioration of travel conditions in these passes during winter significantly affects exchanges among municipalities and the conveniences for road users. For the purpose of improving city infrastructure based on area-wide cooperation, and of creating a comfortable living environment in winter and a road environment that is resistance to winter difficulties, it is necessary to secure safe and smooth traffic on pass sections in winter. This paper presents various analyses carried out on the basis of data from winter travel speed investigations that were conducted on pass sections where travel conditions are especially severe.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Conference proceedings available on CD-ROM.
• Corporate Authors:

  World Road Association (PIARC)

  La Grande Arche, Paroi Nord, Niveau 5
  F-92055 La Defense Cedex,   France 
• Authors:
  • Masuya, Y
  • Urata, K
  • ITO, N
  • TAMURA, T
  • Saito, K
• Conference:
  • New Challenges for Winter Road Service. XIth International Winter Road Congress
  • Location: Sapporo, Japan
  • Date: 2002-1-28 to 2002-1-31
• Publication Date: 2002

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 10p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Highway safety; Highway travel; Snowfall; Speed; Traffic flow; Visibility; Weather conditions; Winter; Winter maintenance
• Geographic Terms: Japan
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Safety and Human Factors; I62: Winter Maintenance;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00921211
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 20 2002 12:00AM