THE INFLUENCE OF HUMAN FACTORS IN THE DESIGNING OF CREST CURVES

Nowadays, along with the usual geometry characteristics, road design standards need also to allow for interaction between the driver, the vehicle and the road. Optimal design requires the individual components of the overall system, which the dynamic process of road engineering deals with, to be studied. Proof of the need for the kind of analysis which contemplates all the different components is provided by the many studies of accidents and their causes. Many analyses, while highlighting the pre-eminent role of human behavior, do not attempt to explain the factors governing the driver's choices. In this paper, cognitive theories have been extended to the field of road engineering. The special aim of the study was to assess probabilities of cognitive failures in a crest curve, taking into consideration the reliability of the human component. The results obtained made it possible to quantify the probabilities of human error while covering a stretch of road and demonstrated the validity of this approach both in the starting stages and at the point at which choices of maintenance strategy are made with the aim of limiting the possible causes of altered driving behavior.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • The publisher's German name is Forschungsgesellschaft fur Strassen- und Verkehrswesen (FGSV).
• Corporate Authors:

  Road and Transportation Research Association

  Postbox 50 13 62
  D-50973 Cologne,   Germany 
• Authors:
  • Bosurgi, G
  • D'Andrea, A
  • Pellegrino, O
• Conference:
  • 2nd International Symposium on Highway Geometric Design
  • Location: Mainz, Germany
  • Date: 2000-6-14 to 2000-6-17
• Publication Date: 2000-6

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 457-471

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Behavior; Cognition; Drivers; Geometric design; Highway curves; Highway design; Human error; Human factors engineering; Probability
• Uncontrolled Terms: Vertical curvature
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Design; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Safety and Human Factors; I21: Planning of Transport Infrastructure; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00794805
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FGSV 002/67
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 27 2000 12:00AM