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AuthorRillagoda G.N., Yasanthi
AuthorMehran, Babak
AuthorAlhajyaseen, Wael K.M.
Available date2022-10-10T05:57:31Z
Publication Date2022-11-30
Publication NameAccident Analysis & Prevention
Identifierhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2022.106831
CitationYasanthi, R. G., Mehran, B., & Alhajyaseen, W. K. (2022). A reliability-based weather-responsive variable speed limit system to improve the safety of rural highways. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 177, 106831.
ISSN00014575
URIhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001457522002664
URIhttp://hdl.handle.net/10576/34971
AbstractWeather-responsive Variable Speed Limit (WRVSL) systems treat speed limits as weather-dependent random variables, as opposed to the conventional static speed limits. This study (i) evaluates drivers’ response to a fixed speed limit in different road-weather conditions, and (ii) proposes an effective approach to set WRVSLs, for rural divided highways located in extremely cold regions. Study data: road-weather, and speed data, collected from a rural highway (fixed speed limit = 110 km/h), are used to (i) estimate the 85th percentile speeds of population-level speed distributions, and (ii) develop WRVSLs based on the reliability theory. More specifically, the WRVSLs are set based on reliability: the probability of a speed being (i) likely complied by drivers, and (ii) adequate to avoid a rear-end collision. The study results reveal that merely 73 % of the drivers at the study site comply with the existing posted speed limit under normal road-weather conditions i.e., no precipitation and dry pavements. The reliability of the current speed limit is revealed to be approximately-one under normal road-weather conditions; thus, the current speed limit is perceived credible under such road-weather conditions. Yet, reliability of the current speed limit is substantially reduced in the presence of slight snow, and ice warning pavement conditions. A set of reliability-based WRVSLs ranging from 80 to 110 km/h is proposed. Jurisdictions experiencing extreme road-weather conditions may adapt the proposed methodology to effectively manage speed, particularly in rural highways under adverse road-weather conditions to enhance the probability of speed limits being safe and complied by drivers and as a result reduce crash propensity.
SponsorThe authors gratefully thank Alberta Transportation for providing the study data and NSERC (the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada) for funding the study.
Languageen
PublisherElsevier
SubjectVariable speed limit
Adverse road-weather
Weather-responsive traffic management
Rear-end collision
Rural highway
TitleA reliability-based weather-responsive variable speed limit system to improve the safety of rural highways
TypeArticle
Volume Number177
dc.accessType Full Text


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