Development of an improved method for determining advisory speeds on horizontal curves.

Details

• Creators:
  Green, Eric R. ; Agent, Kenneth R. ; Lammers, Erin
• Corporate Creators:
  University of Kentucky Transportation Center
• Corporate Contributors:
  Kentucky. Transportation Cabinet
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Speed limits
  • Highway curves
  • Traffic speed
  • Design speed
  • Curve advisory speed
  • CARS
  • Rieker
  • superelevation
  • curve radius
  • TRAMS
  More +
• Publication/ Report Number:
  KTC-16-14/SPR15-507-1F
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  Kentucky
• Corporate Publisher:
  University of Kentucky Transportation Center
• Description:
  Horizontal curves are an integral part of the highway alignment. However, a disproportionately high number of severe
  
  crashes occur on them. One method transportation agencies use to reduce the number crashes at horizontal curves is the
  
  installation of curve warning signs which post an appropriate advisory speed. Appropriate curve advisory speeds can be
  
  determined using several methods. Some of these methods are time-consuming to perform and are error-prone. The
  
  purpose of this research was to find the most efficient and accurate data collection method for determining curve advisory
  
  speeds. Several processes were developed and tested. They were then validated against the results of a manual process
  
  referred to as the Direct Method and other traditional methods (such as the ball-bank indicator), which are generally
  
  assumed to produce accurate results. Comparing the results of these methods allow researchers evaluate their accuracy
  
  and usefulness for setting advisory speeds. The results illustrate the potential of a more user-friendly methodology that
  
  allows for efficient and accurate data collection. The advisory speeds determined by this research will assist the Kentucky
  
  Transportation Cabinet to properly sign horizontal curves. Previous research suggests that posting appropriate advisory
  
  speeds results in a safer driving experience.
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  SPR15-507
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/31954/dot_31954_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.44 MB]
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:3670f60cb57e99c7104c504038d819ff0e96014f26dc4f7822f9787f06da475c