CAUSES OF VARIATION IN AUTOMOBILE SPEED ALONG A PARKWAY

The results of research conducted to determine what factors most strongly affect variations in drivers' speed patterns along a roadway are described. Field surveys were conducted on the Gatineau Parkway in Quebec to collect data on the following factors: (a) driver age and sex, (b) vehicle age and size, (c) number of occupants in the vehicle, and (d) geometric configuration of the highway. Speed-change data were divided into three components: (a) frequency of speed changes along the parkway, (b) magnitude of the speed change, and (c) direction (increase or decrease) of the speed change. Analysis of covariance was used to determine the degree of relationship between the first two components and the driver, vehicle, and geometric variables. A manual overlay technique was used to analyze the third component, to check the statistical results, and to verify a technique developed by Leisch to obtain speed profiles. The study found that route geometry and driver age played a significant role in the frequency of speed changes. Driver variables such as age and sex were the most significant factors affecting the magnitude of speed changes. Route geometry affected the magnitude of speed change much less than did the location of the speed change, and it affected the direction of speed changes much less than did driver age. (Author)

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1980/782/782-002.pdf
• Summary URL:
  https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=CAUSES+OF+VARIATION+IN+AUTOMOBILE+SPEED+ALONG+A+PARKWAY&author=B.+Roszell&author=J.+Braaksma&publication_year=1980
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309031729
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Transportation Vehicle Research. 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:
  • Roszell, B Jane
  • Braaksma, John P
• Conference:
  • 59th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board
  • Location: Washington District of Columbia, United States
  • Date: 1980-1-21 to 1980-1-25
• Publication Date: 1980

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 9-16
• Monograph Title: Human Factors and Motorist Information Needs
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 782
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Age; Behavior; Drivers; Frequency (Electromagnetism); Gender; Geometric design; Highway design; Magnitude; Motor vehicles; Service life; Speed; Statistical analysis; Traffic speed; Traffic surveys; Variables; Vehicle occupancy
• Uncontrolled Terms: Driver age; Speed changes; Vehicle age
• Old TRIS Terms: Variations
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Design; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors; Society; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00335176
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309031729
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Sep 16 1981 12:00AM