Time Gap Evaluation due to the Existence of Heavy Vehicles on Urban Expressways

Abstract:

Time gap is important for road user to make decision relative to the lad vehicle at a roadway segment. Theoretically, if the gap is larger than reaction time, drivers would maintain the safe following distance from the vehicle in front or else the probability of vehicle collusion is considerably high. In expressways, gap is important for the purpose of lane changing and overtaking. Due to high allowable speed on expressways, time gap might be affected, especially with the consideration of heavy vehicle existence. This paper attempts to statistically justify any significance correlation between speed and time gap in relative to critical gap acceptance pertaining to the heavy vehicles and cars interaction on urban expressways. Extensive data was collected through video recording before being abstracted and processed by utilizing the TRAIS software. Then, statistical analysis in relative to the speed and time gap for various vehicles interactions are presented. The results showed there is a significant correlation between speed and time gap for all vehicles interaction. When cars following other cars at allowable average speed, the time gap is relatively low leading to a lower critical gap acceptance as compared to the situation with the existence of heavy vehicles.

• Periodical: Applied Mechanics and Materials (Volume 802)
• Pages: 375-380
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.802.375
• Online since: October 2015
• Authors: Wardati Hashim*, Ahmad Kamil Arshad, Masria Mustafa, Noor Azreena Kamaluddin
• Keywords: Expressways, Heavy Vehicles, Speed, Time Gap

References

[1] Road Transport Department Malaysia, Statistics for Motorcar Registration, Available from http: /www. jpj. gov. my/en/statistik-pendaftaran-motokar.

[2] Ministry of Transport Malaysia, Transport Statistic Malaysia 2013, Available from http: /www. mot. gov. my/my/Publication/Official/Statistik%20Pengangkutan%20Malaysia%202013. pdf.

[3] S. Ossen and S.P. Hoogendoorn, Heterogeneity in car-following behavior: theory and empirics, Transportation and Traffic Theory. (2009).

DOI: 10.1016/j.trc.2010.05.006

[4] S. J. Wright, Review of urban congestion trends, impacts and solution. Traffic Management Systems for Australian Urban Freeways, Prepared by ARRB Consulting for Council of Australian Governments: Canberra, (2006).

[5] N. Mashros, R. , Rahman, and E.J. Ben, Exploring the extent of critical gap acceptance caused by rainfall in malaysia, ARPN Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences. 7 (2012), 1664-1668.

[6] T.R. Neuman, New approach to design for stopping sight distance. Transportation Research Record, 1208, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, Washington, DC., USA, (1989).

[7] AASHO, A Policy on design of urban highways and arterial streets, Washington DC, American Association of State Highway Officials, (1973).

[8] C.P. Othman, A simulation study of speed and capacity of rural single carriageway roads, PhD Thesis, University of Wales Cardiff, Wales, U.K., 1999, unpublished.

[9] J.G. Hunt, Level of service on single carriageway roads – a study of following headways, Report to TRL Scotland, Cardiff School of Engineering, Cardiff University of Wales. 1997, unpublished.

[10] Transportation Researh Board, Highway Capacity Manual, Special Report 209. 3rd Edn. Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, Washington D.C., (1994).

[11] C.P. Othman, Driver's car following headway on single carriageway roads. Jurnal Kejuruteraan Awam 16(2004) 15-27.

[12] A.A. Saifizul, H. Yamanaka and Karim M. R, Empirical analysis of gross vehicle weight and free flow speed and consideration on its relation with differential speed limit, Asian Transport Studies, Volume 2, Issue 4 (2013), 351-362.

DOI: 10.1016/j.aap.2010.12.013

[13] K. Aghabayk, W. Young, S. Majid and Wang Y. , Examining vehicle interaction during a vehicle-following manoeuvre. Australasian Transport Research Forum Proceedings, (2011).