Speed Reduction Effects of Drone Radar in Rural Interstate Work Zones

Speed Reduction Effects of Drone Radar in Rural Interstate Work Zones PDF Author: R. F. Benekohal
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Radar in speed limit enforcement
Languages : en
Pages : 122

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Three experiments were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of using drone (passive or unmanned) radar guns on vehicle speeds in construction zones. Experiment 1 was an exploratory study to find the immediate (less than an hour) effects of using one drone radar gun. Experiment 2 was conducted for a longer time period (a few hours) to evaluate the effects of using one drone radar gun. Experiment 3 evaluated the effects of using two drone radar guns and their lasting effects on vehicle speeds. Experiment 3 was divided into three one-hour time intervals. This method was used to determine the lasting effects of drone radar. Data analysis included the comparison of mean speeds, speed distributions, percent exceeding a given speed, and net speed reductions. The immediate effects of using one radar gun (Experiment 1) were 8-10 mph speed reductions; however, such reductions should not be considered typical effects of radar signal transmission because of the exploratory nature of Experiment 1. Experiment 2 showed that using a radar gun was not effective in reducing vehicle speeds when drivers knew it was drone radar. Experiment 3 indicated that the use of two radar guns increased the effectiveness of drone radars, since drivers were not sure whether the signals are from a police radar or drone radar. The two radar experiment reduced truck speeds by 3-6 mph and car speeds by 3 mph, and the radar effects did not diminish over time. In Experiments 1 and 3 the percentage of vehicles with excessive speeds inside the work zones decreased when radar signals were transmitted. Furthermore, the decreases in Experiment 3 were sustained over a period of time.

Speed Reduction Effects of Drone Radar in Rural Interstate Work Zones

Speed Reduction Effects of Drone Radar in Rural Interstate Work Zones PDF Author: R. F. Benekohal
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Radar in speed limit enforcement
Languages : en
Pages : 122

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Book Description
Three experiments were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of using drone (passive or unmanned) radar guns on vehicle speeds in construction zones. Experiment 1 was an exploratory study to find the immediate (less than an hour) effects of using one drone radar gun. Experiment 2 was conducted for a longer time period (a few hours) to evaluate the effects of using one drone radar gun. Experiment 3 evaluated the effects of using two drone radar guns and their lasting effects on vehicle speeds. Experiment 3 was divided into three one-hour time intervals. This method was used to determine the lasting effects of drone radar. Data analysis included the comparison of mean speeds, speed distributions, percent exceeding a given speed, and net speed reductions. The immediate effects of using one radar gun (Experiment 1) were 8-10 mph speed reductions; however, such reductions should not be considered typical effects of radar signal transmission because of the exploratory nature of Experiment 1. Experiment 2 showed that using a radar gun was not effective in reducing vehicle speeds when drivers knew it was drone radar. Experiment 3 indicated that the use of two radar guns increased the effectiveness of drone radars, since drivers were not sure whether the signals are from a police radar or drone radar. The two radar experiment reduced truck speeds by 3-6 mph and car speeds by 3 mph, and the radar effects did not diminish over time. In Experiments 1 and 3 the percentage of vehicles with excessive speeds inside the work zones decreased when radar signals were transmitted. Furthermore, the decreases in Experiment 3 were sustained over a period of time.

Speed Reduction Methods and Studies in Work Zones

Speed Reduction Methods and Studies in Work Zones PDF Author: R. F. Benekohal
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Express highways
Languages : en
Pages : 82

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Book Description
The objectives of this project were to determine the effectiveness of speed control methods and study traffic behavior in construction zones. This report provides a brief introduction and summary of findings from the following reports which were prepared as part of this study: (1) Evaluation and Summary of Studies in Speed Control Methods in Work Zones. (2) Evaluation of a Radar-Activated Horn System for Speed Control in Highway Maintenance Operations. (3) Survey of Driver's Opinion about Work Zone Traffic Control on a Rural Highway. (4) Speed Reduction Effects of Drone Radar in Rural Interstate Work Zones. (5) Speed Reduction Effects of Changeable Message Signs in a Construction Zone. (6) Effects of Police Presence on Speed in a Highway Work Zone: Circulating Marked Police Car Experiment. (7) Evaluation of Work Zone Speed Limit Signs with Strobe Lights. (8) Speed Reduction Profiles of Vehicles in a Highway Construction zone. Data only for those vehicles in free flow traffic are used for speed reduction evaluation. A vehicle was considered to be in free flow traffic when its time headway was greater than 5 seconds.

Evaluation of Work Zone Speed Reduction Measures

Evaluation of Work Zone Speed Reduction Measures PDF Author: T. H. Maze
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Roads
Languages : en
Pages : 146

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Book Description
The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) has made improving work zone (WZ) safety a high priority. Managing vehicle speeds through work zones is perceived to be an important factor in achieving this goal. A number of speed reduction techniques are currently used by transportation agencies throughout the country to control speeds and reduce speed variation at work zones. The purpose of this project is to study these and other applicable work zone speed reduction strategies. Furthermore, this research explores transportation agencies' policies regarding managing speeds in long-term, short-term, and moving work zones. This report consists of three chapters. The first chapter, a literature review, examines the current speed reduction practices at work zones and provides a review of the relevant literature. The speed control strategies reviewed in this chapter range from posting regulatory and advisory speed limit signs to using the latest radar technologies to reduce speeds at work zones. The second chapter includes a short write-up for each identified speed control technique. The write-up includes a description, the results of any field tests, the benefits and the costs of the technology or technique. To learn more about other state policies regarding work zone speed reduction and management, the Center for Transportation Research and Education conducted a survey. The survey consists of six multipart questions. The third chapter provides summaries of the response to each question.

Transportation Research Record

Transportation Research Record PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Air travel
Languages : en
Pages : 446

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Highway Research Abstracts

Highway Research Abstracts PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Highway engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 580

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Civil Engineering Studies

Civil Engineering Studies PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Transportation engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 488

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Effectiveness of Changeable Message Signs in Controlling Vehicle Speeds in Work Zones

Effectiveness of Changeable Message Signs in Controlling Vehicle Speeds in Work Zones PDF Author: Nicholas J. Garber
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Roads
Languages : en
Pages : 108

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Book Description
Work zone speeds have customarily been regulated by standard regulatory or advisory speed signs. However, most drivers do not slow down in response to these static speed control measures. The changeable message sign (CMS) with radar unit has dynamic capabilities which may be more effective in altering driver behavior. The radar, attached directly to the CMS, determines the actual speed of individual vehicles in the traffic stream. Upon detecting a speed higher than a preset threshold limit, the CMS can display a personalized warning message. This study evaluated the effectiveness of the CMS with radar unit in reducing work zone speeds. Four CMS messages designed to warn drivers that their speed exceeded the maximum safe speed were tested at seven work zones on two interstate highways in Virginia. Speed and volume data for the whole population traveling through the work zone were collected with automatic traffic counters. To assess the effect of CMS on high-speed drivers in particular, vehicles that triggered the radar-activated display were videotaped as they passed through the work zone. Using the data obtained from the traffic counters and videotapes, speed characteristics were determined at the beginning, middle, and end of the work zone. These characteristics were computed for the whole population and for high-speed vehicles separately. Statistical tests were then conducted using these speed characteristics to determine whether significant reductions in speed accompanied the use of CMS. Odds ratios were first calculated to compare the odds for speeding when using CMS with the odds for speeding when using the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) signing only. These odds ratios indicated that CMS effectively reduced the number of vehicles speeding by any amount, by 5 mph or more, and by 10 mph or more in the work zone. When analysis of variance was used to compare speeds when using the CMS with speeds when using MUTCD signing only, all of the speed characteristics average speeds, 85th percentile speeds, speed variance, and the percentage of vehicles speeding by any amount, by 5 mph or more, and by 10 mph or more were reduced with any of the four CMS messages. In some cases, these reductions were not significant at a= 0.05. The messages were rated according to their level of effectiveness in the following order: [1] YOU ARE SPEEDING SLOW DOWN, [2] HIGH SPEED SLOW DOWN, [3] REDUCE SPEED IN WORK ZONE, and [4] EXCESSIVE SPEED SLOW DOWN. Finally, t tests were conducted using the speed data obtained for the high-speed vehicles, and at a significance level of ct 0.05, all of the messages were effective in significantly reducing the average speeds of those vehicles traveling 59 mph or faster in a 55 mph work zone when compared to MUTCD signing only.

Work Zone Speed Management

Work Zone Speed Management PDF Author: John W. Shaw
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Road work zones
Languages : en
Pages : 152

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Book Description
This synthesis documents information regarding the current state of practice for work zone speed management. The report compiles data, procedures, techniques, and technical issues related to observing and comparing work zone speeds. The speed management measures have been organized into four categories: engineering, operational, enforcement, and public education and outreach. Information included in this study was acquired through a review of the literature, two surveys of state department of transportation representatives in all states, a compilation of state agency public information campaigns, and follow-up interviews with select survey respondents from several U.S. states and one Canadian province.

Traffic Management Strategies for Merge Areas in Rural Interstate Work Zones

Traffic Management Strategies for Merge Areas in Rural Interstate Work Zones PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Automobile drivers
Languages : en
Pages : 84

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Book Description
The Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT) sponsored the Center for Transportation Research and Education (CTRE) conduct of research on the capacity and driver merge behavior at Interstate work zone merge areas. The principle goal of this research is to determine the traffic capacity at work zone locations where two lanes of traffic are reduced to one (lane closure). Reducing two traffic lanes to one in each direction is the typical method of channeling traffic into a work zone on Iowa's rural Interstate system. When traffic volumes exceed the capacity of these merge points, the resulting congestion can lead to the formation of queues, which result in delays and increases the potential for traffic crashes. Successful implementation of work zone improvements at locations where congestion is expected will provide a benefit to motorists through reduced delays and increased safety. The research project was conducted in four phases: a literature review, the collection of traffic data at work zone merge areas, the analysis of this data, and the development of a computer simulation tool to model traffic at merge areas.

Work Program and Estimate of Cost for Highway Planning and Research for Fiscal Year ...

Work Program and Estimate of Cost for Highway Planning and Research for Fiscal Year ... PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Highway planning
Languages : en
Pages : 240

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