01084473

Component

https://doi.org/10.3141/2012-12

http://scholar.google.com...nald&publication_year=2007

Merging on motorways represents one of the most difficult and dynamic maneuvers of all driving subtasks. Merging operations at uncontrolled ramp junctions have been extensively investigated. With the rapid implementation of ramp metering techniques, many junctions are now operated under ramp metering control. Little research has been done to investigate the possible effects of ramp metering on the merging operation. The research described in this paper focuses on the comparisons of merging operations under both metered and unmetered scenarios. Time series data of the merging process were collected with the Transportation Research Group instrumented vehicle and video cameras at a tapered motorway merge site. The data included accurate vehicle speed measured by laser speedometer, leading and following headway measured by radar, and driver’s eye movement derived from an in-car camera. Following a comprehensive analysis of the data, it was found that merging operations under ramp control could be significantly different from free merging. Merging maneuvers may become more difficult as a result of ramp control. The equity implications of such effects are discussed. It is believed that the understanding gained from this research will be useful for the design and operation of ramp metering.

01084472

English

pp 105-112

2007

Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board

9780309104388

Print

Figures (9) ; Photos (1) ; References (25)

Data collection; Eye movements; Headways; Highway operations; Instrumented vehicles; Merging traffic; Ramp metering; Traffic speed

Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; I73: Traffic Control

TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Jan 17 2008 2:07PM

• Characteristics of Breakdown Phenomenon in Merging Sections of Urban Expressways in Japan
• Evaluating Benefits of A Systemwide Adaptive Ramp-Metering Strategy in Portland, Oregon
• Evaluation of Impacts of Open Road Tolling on Main-Line Toll Plaza
• Freeway Bottleneck Simulation, Implementation, and Evaluation
• High-Occupancy Vehicle Lanes and Hybrid Vehicles
• Improving Queue Size Estimation for Minnesota’s Stratified Zone Metering Strategy
• License Plate and Telephone Numbers in Changeable Message Sign Amber Alert Messages
• Methodology for Identifying Vulnerable Sections in a National Road Network
• Modeling Freeway Diverging Behavior on Deceleration Lanes
• Probabilistic Data-Driven Approach for Real-Time Screening of Freeway Traffic Data
• Probe Vehicle Runs or Loop Detectors? Effect of Detector Spacing and Sample Size on Accuracy of Freeway Congestion Monitoring
• Safety Impacts of Freeway Managed-Lane Strategy: Inside Lane for High-Occupancy Vehicle Use and Right Shoulder Lane as Travel Lane During Peak Periods
• Simulation Analysis of Truck-Restricted and High-Occupancy Vehicle Lanes
• Traffic Diversion Effect of Ramp Metering at Individual and System Levels