A QUANTITATIVE EVALUATION OF THE GEOMETRIC ASPECTS OF HIGHWAYS

Abstract

A DETAILED STUDY WAS UNDERTAKEN OF VEHICLE SPEEDS ON AN ACTUAL ROAD CURVE. A PILOT STUDY WAS CARRIED OUT, AND THIS WAS EXTENDED TO INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING GEOMETRIC FEATURES' 5 1/4 DEG HORIZONTAL CURVE, A RIGHT-ANGLE TURN, TRANSITION SECTION FROM 4 LANES TO 2 LANES, A MERGING LINE AND A NARROW BRIDGE. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE MODULUS OF GEOMETRIC ASPECTS PROVIDES A REPRODUCIBLE QUANTITATIVE RATING OF THE EASE OF TRAFFIC FLOW THROUGH ALL GEOMETRIC FEATURES EXCEPT THOSE REQUIRING VERY SEVERE SPEED CHANGES. /RRL/