OPERATIONAL EFFECTS OF LARGER TRUCKS ON RURAL ROADWAYS

Ability of various truck configurations to negotiate rural roads with restrictive geometry was examined in addition to effects of such trucks on traffic operations and safety. Truck sizes included truck-tractor semitrailers with trailer lengths of 40, 45, and 48 ft (i.e., semi-40, semi-45, and semi-48) and twin-trailer combinations with 28-ft trailers (i.e., twins or double 28). Test sites consisted of approximately 60 mi of rural, two-lane roads in New Jersey and California with a variety of lane widths, shoulder widths, and horizontal and vertical alignment. Field testing involved following control trucks of each truck type along the selected routes. Photographic and radar equipment were used in a data collection caravan to measure the effects of the trucks on oncoming vehicles in terms of speed changes and lateral placement changes. Statistical testing was used to compare operational differences between various truck types for specific geometric conditions. Results showed that semi-48 and twins caused some changes in operation of oncoming vehicles, particularly on narrow roadways. However, careful driving by drivers of larger trucks may have partially compensated for operational differences in oncoming vehicles between truck types. Overall, truck driving behavior and site differences had more of an effect on vehicle operations than the effects of the different truck types. Potential safety problems as evidenced by extreme maneuvers were observed for a few oncoming motorists in reaction to the twins and longer tractor semitrailers.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1990/1281/1281-004.pdf
• Record URL:
  https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=OPERATIONAL+EFFECTS+OF+LARGER+TRUCKS+ON+RURAL+ROADWAYS&author=C.+Zegeer&author=J.+Hummer&author=F.+Hanscom&publication_year=1990
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• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper appears in Transportation Research Record No. 1281, Human Factors and Safety Research Related to Highway Design and Operation. 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
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

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• Authors:
  • Zegeer, Charles V
  • Hummer, Joseph
  • Hanscom, Fred
• Publication Date: 1990

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 28-39
• Monograph Title: HUMAN FACTORS AND SAFETY RESEARCH RELATED TO HIGHWAY DESIGN AND OPERATION 1990
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 1281
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Behavior; Data collection; Drivers; Field tests; Geometric design; Highway operations; Lateral placement; Operations; Reaction time; Rural highways; Statistical analysis; Tractor trailer combinations; Traffic; Traffic safety; Traffic speed; Truck drivers; Trucks
• Uncontrolled Terms: Driver reaction; Longer combination vehicles; Speed changes
• Old TRIS Terms: Double trailers; Operational effects
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Data and Information Technology; Design; Highways; Motor Carriers; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I73: Traffic Control; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00603694
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0-309-05060-X
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Feb 28 1991 12:00AM