00626888

Component

http://onlinepubs.trb.org...trr/1992/1352/1352-008.pdf

https://scholar.google.co...rthy&publication_year=1992

Examined in this paper is the effect of steady-burn lights on driver behavior in divided and undivided highways with horizontal and vertical curves; and with and without external lighting, entrance and exit ramps, tapered sections of lane closures, and median crossovers. The study was based on an examination of the driving behavior of a sample of driver subjects who were asked to drive an instrumented automobile in several highway work zones during the day, during the night when steady-burn lights were placed on drums, and during the night when steady-burn lights were removed. The effect of steady-burn lights on the lane-changing behavior of motorists in advance of the tapered sections was determined by recording traffic volume at three to four locations in each travel lane before the taper. The results showed that steady-burn lights had little effect, if any, on driver behavior in highway work zones. It appears that the high-intensity sheeting on drums and the flashing arrow panel had a powerful effect on drivers, thus leaving the steady-burn lights without any practical value in the work zones. It is concluded that steady-burn lights are not required for traffic control when drums with high intensity sheeting and flashing arrow panel are used as channelizing devices in these highway facilities.

This paper appears in Transportation Research Record No. 1352, Maintenance Management, Traffic Safety, and Snow Removal. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved

01405028

English

p. 60-66

1992

Transportation Research Record

0309052165

Figures (8) ; References (3) ; Tables (1)

Behavior; Crashes; Curves (Geometry); Divided highways; Drivers; Drums (Containers); Four lane highways; Highways; Lane closure; Lighting equipment; Measures of effectiveness; Medians; Off ramps; On ramps; Street lighting; Tapered traffic lanes; Work zone traffic control

Effectiveness; Horizontal curvature; Median crossovers; Undivided highways; Vertical curvature

Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors; I61: Equipment and Maintenance Methods; I73: Traffic Control

TRIS, TRB

Feb 18 1993 12:00AM

• ACCIDENTS AT ENTRANCE RAMPS IN LONG-TERM CONSTRUCTION WORK ZONES
• BENEFIT-COST ASSESSMENT OF THE UTILITY OF ROAD WEATHER INFORMATION SYSTEMS FOR SNOW AND ICE CONTROL
• EFFECTIVENESS OF STEADY-BURN LIGHTS FOR TRAFFIC CONTROL IN TANGENT SECTIONS OF HIGHWAY WORK ZONES
• EFFECTS OF DEICING SALT ON OVERSTORY VEGETATION IN THE LAKE TAHOE BASIN
• INTEGRATION OF MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS INTO GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS
• MAXIMIZING LEGIBILITY OF TRAFFIC SIGNS IN CONSTRUCTION WORK ZONES
• OPTIMUM MAINTENANCE STANDARDS FOR ROADS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
• PRACTICES AND NEEDS IN WORK ZONE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY
• SPEED-REDUCTION PATTERNS OF VEHICLES IN A HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION ZONE