01367714

Component

The research presented in this paper quantifies and models the impact of wet pavement surface and rainy weather conditions on driver perception-reaction times (PRTs), deceleration levels, and traffic signal change interval durations. A total of 648 stop-run records were collected as part of the research effort for a 72 km/h (45 mi/h) approach speed where participant drivers encountered a yellow indication initiation at different distances from the intersection. The participant drivers were randomly selected in different age groups (under 40 years old, 40 to 59 years old, and 60 years of age or older) and genders (female and male). Using the gathered data, statistical models for driver PRT and deceleration levels were developed, considering roadway surface and environmental parameters, driver attributes (age and gender), roadway grade, approaching speed, and time and distance to the intersection at the onset of yellow. Inclement weather yellow timings were then developed and summarized in lookup tables as a function of different factors (driver age/gender, roadway grade, speed limit, precipitation level, and roadway surface condition) to provide practical guidelines for the design of yellow signal timings in wet and rainy weather conditions. The results indicate that wet roadway surface conditions require a 5 percent increase in the change interval and that rainy conditions require a 10 percent or more increase in the duration of the change interval. These recommended change durations can also be integrated within the Vehicle Infrastructure Integration (VII) initiative to provide customizable driver warnings prior to a transition to a red indication.

This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AH010 Surface Transportation Weather

01362476

12-0834

English

18p

2012

Transportation Research Board 91st Annual Meeting

Digital/other

Figures; References; Tables

Drivers; Rain; Reaction time; Traffic signal timing; Visual perception; Wet weather; Yellow interval (Traffic signal cycle)

Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; I73: Traffic Control

Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting 2012 Paper #12-0834

TRIS, TRB

Feb 8 2012 4:57PM