CHANNELIZATION OF VEHICLE TRAFFIC
SINCE THE MOTORIST TENDS TO SELECT THE SHORTEST, MOST OBVIOUS COURSE, CHANNELIZATION SHOULD BE DESIGNED AND EXECUTED FOR THE MOTORIST TO MAKE ONLY ONE DECISION AT A TIME. CHANNELIZATION DEVICES SHOULD BE INTRODUCED GRADUALLY SO THAT THE DRIVER HAS SUFFICIENT WARNING TO AVOID THE OBSTRUCTION. THUS, SPEED AND DENSITY OF TRAFFIC HAVE A FUNDAMENTAL INFLUENCE ON THE TYPE AND LAYOUT OF AN INSTALLATION. ONE TYPE OF DESIGN WHICH MAY FUNCTION PERFECTLY WHEN SUBJECTED TO DENSE SLOW-MOVING TRAFFIC MAY BE A PROLIFIC ACCIDENT BREEDER AND HAVE A LOW EFFICIENCY UNDER A HIGH SPEED MOVEMENT OF LOW DENSITY. THE DESIGN MUST AT ALL TIMES BE GOVERNED BY THE MECHANICS OF MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE AND THE REACTION OF THE DRIVER. DESIGN FEATURES THAT CAN BE IMPROVED BY ENGINEERING DESIGN ARE: (1) SEPARATION OF THE STREAMS OF OPPOSITE-DIRECTION TRAFFIC, (2) ELIMINATION OF ALL GRADE CROSSINGS, (3) ELIMINATION OF ALL LEFT TURNS, (4) THE EXCLUSION OF PEDESTRIANS FROM MOTOR WAYS, (5) THE REMOVAL OF FIXED OBJECTS FROM WITHIN A REASONABLE DISTANCE FROM PAVED ROADWAYS, (6) THE USE OF CURBING ONLY WHERE IT WILL PROVE TO BE A SAFETY FEATURE, AND (7) THE PROVISION OF ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION LANES AT POINTS OF ENTRANCE AND EXIT.
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Supplemental Notes:
- pp 46-65, 14 FIG
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Authors:
- Noble, C M
- Publication Date: 0
Media Info
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Acceleration lanes; At grade intersections; Building entrances; Curbs; Deceleration lanes; Design; Drivers; Highway safety; Highway traffic; Intersection elements; Left turns; Pedestrians; Reaction time; Speed; Traffic density; Vehicular phase
- Uncontrolled Terms: Channelization; Design features; Driver reaction
- Old TRIS Terms: Entrances (Other than doors); Vehicular traffic
- Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Pedestrians and Bicyclists;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00227124
- Record Type: Publication
- Files: TRIS
- Created Date: Aug 13 2004 6:13PM