00799060

Component

https://doi.org/10.3141/1701-08

http://scholar.google.com...mmer&publication_year=2000

The objective of this study was to develop and test a suitable method for measuring passing sight distance on two-lane, two-way highways by using one person and vehicle. A literature review and contacts with state department of transportation (DOT) engineers revealed a number of current methods, and the research team developed several new methods. However, many of the current and new methods had problems that precluded agencies from using them. Five promising methods remained for an experiment testing their accuracy relative to the slow but trustworthy walking method: the two-vehicle method, which is the most popular method used by state DOTs, a one-vehicle method used in a few divisions of the North Carolina DOT, a new laser rangefinder method, a new optical rangefinder method, and a new speed and distance method. The experiment provided data at 20 horizontal curve sites and 20 hill sites, equally split between the piedmont and mountain regions of North Carolina. The researchers recorded the time required to perform each method and also considered equipment costs, conservatism, and training needs. On the basis of these factors, the researchers recommend that highway agencies use the one-vehicle method to measure passing sight distance in most cases. The one-vehicle method was generally more accurate than the two-vehicle method, and it was superior to the new methods in several important ways.

This paper appears in Transportation Research Record No. 1701, Design Speed, Operating Speed, and Sight Distance Issues.

English

p. 61-67

2000

Transportation Research Record

0309066808

Figures (1) ; References (5) ; Tables (2)

Accuracy; Costs; Equipment; Highway curves; Hills; Measuring methods; No passing zones; Passing sight distance; Time; Training; Two lane highways

Horizontal curvature

North Carolina

Design; Education and Training; Finance; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; I21: Planning of Transport Infrastructure

TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Sep 29 2000 12:00AM

• DESIGN SPEED AND OPERATING SPEED IN RURAL HIGHWAY ALIGNMENT DESIGN
• DRIVER BRAKING PERFORMANCE IN STOPPING SIGHT DISTANCE SITUATIONS
• EVALUATION OF THE PASSING PROCESS ON TWO-LANE RURAL HIGHWAYS
• GEOMETRIC DESIGN OF LOW-SPEED URBAN STREETS
• MATHEMATICAL MODELS OF VEHICULAR SPEED ON MOUNTAIN ROADS
• NEW STOPPING SIGHT DISTANCE MODEL FOR USE IN HIGHWAY GEOMETRIC DESIGN
• OPERATING SPEED ON CREST VERTICAL CURVES WITH LIMITED STOPPING SIGHT DISTANCE
• RELIABILITY APPROACH TO INTERSECTION SIGHT DISTANCE DESIGN
• SAFETY EFFECTS OF LIMITED STOPPING SIGHT DISTANCE ON CREST VERTICAL CURVES
• SIGHT DISTANCE FOR STOP-CONTROLLED INTERSECTIONS BASED ON GAP ACCEPTANCE
• SPEED REDUCTION AS A SURROGATE FOR ACCIDENT EXPERIENCE AT HORIZONTAL CURVES ON RURAL TWO-LANE HIGHWAYS
• SPEED-PROFILE MODEL FOR A DESIGN-CONSISTENCY EVALUATION PROCEDURE IN THE UNITED STATES
• SUMMARY OF DESIGN SPEED, OPERATING SPEED, AND DESIGN CONSISTENCY ISSUES
• TRUCK SPEED PROFILES