Optimal Winter Speed Limit

Winter weather lasts about five months in Hokkaido, Japan, and there is a significantly higher number of motor vehicle accidents during these months. This study seeks to determine the optimal winter speed limit in Hokkaido through the application of a cost analysis and by analysis of effects of road and traffic conditions. Initially, a cost analysis of travel time costs, vehicle operating costs, pollution costs, and accident costs was applied to determine optimal average speed on the basis of minimum total cost. Then, the effects of road and traffic conditions were calculated by regression analysis. Finally, the optimal winter speed limits were achieved. These optimal speed limits would be applicable for both cars and trucks. A sensitivity analysis was conducted to investigate the results when costs were increased. The analysis suggests that the model is reliable and that the optimal speed limits are sustainable over the long term. A survey of road users found that users believed that the proposed optimal speed limits were appropriate in most cases.

• Record URL:
  http://journals.oregondigital.org/trforum/article/viewFile/996/891
• 
• Summary URL:
  http://journals.oregondigital.org/trforum/article/view/996
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/10461469
• Authors:
  • Thanesuen, Suthipun
  • Kagaya, Seiichi
  • Uchida, Ken-etsu
  • Hagiwara, Toru
• Publication Date: 2007

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 111-127
• Serial:
  • Journal of the Transportation Research Forum
  • Volume: 46
  • Issue Number: 1
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Forum
  • ISSN: 1046-1469
  • Serial URL: https://trforum.org/journal-of-the-trf/
• Publication flags:

  Open Access (libre)

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Costs; Highway safety; Operating costs; Optimization; Pollution; Regression analysis; Sensitivity analysis; Speed limits; Surveys; Traffic; Traffic crashes; Travel time; Weather conditions; Winter
• Uncontrolled Terms: Cost analysis; Road conditions
• Geographic Terms: Hokkaido (Japan)
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Environment; Finance; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors; I73: Traffic Control; I82: Accidents and Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01054385
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 26 2007 11:01PM