EVALUATION OF THE CONVERGING CHEVRON PAVEMENT MARKING PATTERN AT ONE WISCONSIN LOCATION

This paper describes an evaluation of converging chevron pavement markings in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. The chevron markings are designed to reduce exit ramp speeds by creating the illusion that the vehicle is speeding and the road is narrowing. A test ramp was chosen based on traffic volumes and roadway geometry and because the ramp had a history of large-truck rollovers. Speed information was provided by four permanent loop detectors, including two in a nearby comparison ramp. Speed and crash impact data were compared for the test and comparison ramps both before and after the chevron installation. Given the relatively short time frame and the small number of crashes, statistically robust crash analyses were not possible. The installation of chevron patterns did appear to result in large speed reductions on the test ramp. Speeds were found to be lower in the "after" period during all hours on both weekdays and weekends. No adverse effects were identified from the installation of the chevron markings. Limitations of the study are discussed. Because of several methodological hurdles, it is recommended that more research is needed to definitively evaluate the effect of chevron markings on speed and crashes.

• Record URL:
  http://www.aaafoundation.org/pdf/chevrons.pdf
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety

  607 14th Street, NW, Suite 201
  Washington, DC    20005

  Marquette University

  Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 1515 West Wisconsin Avenue
  Milwaukee, WI  United States  53233
• Authors:
  • Drakopoulos, A
  • Vergou, G
• Publication Date: 2003-7

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 20 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Before and after studies; Crash rates; Field tests; Methodology; Off ramps; Road markings; Speed; Speed control; Visual perception
• Uncontrolled Terms: Chevron pattern
• Geographic Terms: Wisconsin
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors; I73: Traffic Control; I82: Accidents and Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00961862
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 25 2003 12:00AM