UNDERSTANDING CONGESTION

Congestion is characteristic of all heavily used transport systems, and consists of the interference by one traveller in the free movement of another. Although there are well established methods of measuring the cost of congestion, they rely on an unstated subjective element, the "target" speed considered as reasonable. This is a moving target. At present there is a profound debate among different solutions to congestion, derived from different perceptions of its causes; these alternative solutions include road construction, traffic management, public transport improvements, traffic calming, doing nothing, and road pricing. Apparently there is no consensus on objective methods, but there is a possibility of a new consensus, based on an integral approach to all transport systems, a recognition of the impossibility of providing for all potential demand for movement, and an understanding of the importance of human factors and travellers' motivations.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/07618980
• Corporate Authors:

  Institut National de Recherche sur les Transports et leur Securite (INRETS)

  2 Avenue du General Malleret-Joinville
  Arcueil Cedex,   France  F-94114
• Authors:
  • Goodwin, P B
• Publication Date: 1990-6

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 75-80
• Serial:
  • RECHERCHE TRANSPORTS SECURITE
  • Issue Number: 5
  • Publisher: Institut National de Recherche sur les Transports et leur Securite (INRETS)
  • ISSN: 0761-8980

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Highway design; Highway planning; Highway traffic control; Human factors; Improvements; Socioeconomic factors; Speed; Traffic congestion; Travel modes
• Uncontrolled Terms: Congestion; Road improvements
• Old TRIS Terms: Travel modes
• Subject Areas: Economics; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00497109
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, ATRI
• Created Date: Sep 30 1990 12:00AM