Evaluating the effectiveness of converging chevron pavement markings.
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2010-10-01
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Edition:Final; Aug. 2007-May 2009.
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Abstract:Converging chevron pavement markings have recently seen rising interest in the United States as a
means to reduce speeds at high-speed locations in a desire to improve safety performance. This report
presents an investigation into the effectiveness of chevron markings in reducing vehicle speeds on two-lane
freeway-to-freeway directional ramps in Atlanta, Georgia. The evaluation is based on a statistical comparison
at pre-selected sites of speeds before and after the installation of the chevron markings. The analysis focuses
on the impact of converging chevrons over the range of speed percentiles and on the mean speed.
The analysis indicates that the chevrons had a minimal impact on vehicle speeds, with drivers adjusting
back to their previous speeds as they acclimate to the treatment. The effect of the chevrons’ treatments on
speed tended to be most pronounced immediately after the chevron implementation. However, by the ninth
month after implementation the magnitude of the effect dropped to under 1 to 2 mph for the mean speed and
most vehicle speed percentiles. While this result does not necessarily imply that the chevron treatment is not a
meaningful safety treatment, any safety benefits are not likely to result from a general decrease in speeds.
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