United States Department of Transportation
i
Improved Vehicle Occupancy Data Collection Methods
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1997-04-14
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[PDF-1.34 MB]
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TRIS Online Accession Number:00798938
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NTL Classification:NTL-HIGHWAY/ROAD TRANSPORTATION-HIGHWAY/ROAD TRANSPORTATION;NTL-PLANNING AND POLICY-Surveys;NTL-SAFETY AND SECURITY-Accidents;NTL-SAFETY AND SECURITY-Human Factors;NTL-REFERENCES AND DIRECTORIES-Statistics;
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Abstract:This report evaluates current and emerging vehicle occupancy data collection
methodologies. Five primary methods for collecting vehicle occupancy data were
identified: the traditional roadside/windshield observation method, a recently
developed carousel observational method, photographic surveillance, mail-out or
telephone surveys, and accident database extraction method. The findings show
that other methods besides the traditional windshield method may be advantageous
for collecting vehicle occupancy information. The key factors in selecting a
collection method are the conditions under which vehicle occupancy is to be
estimated. For example, the accident method and mail-out surveys are well
suited for developing regional vehicle occupancy estimates, while the windshield
method and carousel method are well suited for corridor-specific estimates.
Another key finding, which impact the selection of a method and sampling period,
is the fact that average vehicle occupancy estimates vary significantly by
time-of-day, day-of-week, and month-of-year. The implications of this finding
is that agencies cannot continue to infer yearly average vehicle occupancy (AVO)
estimates from data collected during a limited time period such as the morning
rush hour period. Recommendations for selecting and implementing a vehicle
occupancy data collection method are also provided. 119p.
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