published_or_final_version / Transport Policy and Planning / Master / Master of Arts

published_or_final_version / abstract / Transport Policy and Planning / Master / Master of Arts in Transport Policy and Planning

A major traffic-related problem faced by residents is speeding, which not only causes safety concerns, but also noise issues. Traffic calming is a much favoured traffic management tool employed by road controlling authorities to primarily reduce vehicle speed, hence improve community liveability. This research aimed to investigate the impacts of traffic calming on speed, safety and traffic noise. The objectives included developing models for the prediction of speed and noise on traffic-calmed streets, and providing guidance for good design practices. Speeds of individual vehicles as they approached and crossed traffic calming devices were observed in order to identify the behaviour of individual drivers. Results indicated that the speed hump and the raised angled slow point produced the largest speed reductions and least variation in speeds, while mid-block narrowings had no significant speed changes. Inter-device speed was found to be mainly controlled by the separation between devices. 85th percentile speeds at distances from calming devices were 40 – 45 km/h for vertical deflections and 45 – 55 km/h for horizontal deflections. Speeds on approach to speed humps were found to be influenced by the distance available on the approaches, while operating speed at the speed humps were partly influenced by the hump width relative to the road width. There was evidence of safety benefits of traffic calming overall, despite mid-block crashes increasing post-calming. However, there was no association between the traffic calming and the crashes, which appeared to probably be due to other factors, human factors in particular. Noise levels produced by light vehicles across speed humps were in fact lower than on a flat section of road, given their respective mean speeds. At a reference speed of 25 km/h, noise levels produced over the 100 mm hump were 3.6 dBA higher than those produced by the 75 mm hump.

Planläggning av cirkulationsplatser har blivit ett vanligt inslag i en mängd olika städer världen över för att lösa farliga situationer som kan uppstå i traditionella fyrvägskorsningar. Detta eftersom bilisternas hastighet hålls låg i en cirkulationsplats jämfört med en vanlig fyrvägskorsning vilket i sin tur leder till mindre allvarliga olyckor. Är de oskyddade trafikanternas säkerhetsfördelar vid en cirkulationsplats lika tydliga? Syftet med studien är att undersöka utformningen av trafikmiljöer, med fokus på fotgängares och cyklisters säkerhet i anslutning till cirkulationsplatser. Jag har sett på vilka säkerhetshöjande aspekter som bör tas i beaktande för oskyddade trafikanter. Frågeställningarna i arbetet är - Vilka för- och nackdelar för oskyddade trafikanter finns det med planläggning och konstruktion av cirkulationsplatser? - Vilka säkerhetsaspekter tas i beaktande vid cirkulationsplatser? Forskningen baserar sig på en kvalitativ metod. Datainsamlingsmetoder som använts är observation, intervju och kvalitativ textanalys. I undersökningen deltog tre planerare från Gävle, Eskilstuna och Västerås. I undersökningen lyfts säkerhetsaspekter, samt för- och nackdelar fram som de undersökta kommunerna utgår ifrån i planläggningen av cirkulationsplatser och övergångsställen. I resultatet kan konstateras att det med snabba och relativt enkla metoder och åtgärder är möjligt att förbättra fotgängares och cyklisters säkerhet på passager vid cirkulationsplatser. / Planning of roundabouts have become a common feature in various cities around the world to resolve dangerous situations that may occur in traditional four-way intersections. This is because the motorists’ speed is lower in a roundabout compared to a standard four-way intersection, which leads to less severe accidents. Are vulnerable road users safety benefits at a roundabout as clear? The purpose of the study is to examine the design of traffic environments, with a focus on pedestrian and cyclists’ safety in connection to roundabouts. I have seen on the safety aspects that should be taken into consideration for pedestrians and cyclists. The research questions in my study are: - What are the advantages and disadvantages of vulnerable road users with planning and construction of roundabouts? - Which safety aspects are taken into consideration in roundabouts? The research is based on a qualitative approach. Data collection methods used are observation, interview and qualitative text analysis. The study included three planners from Gävle, Eskilstuna and Västerås. The highlighted safety aspects, advantages and disadvantages presented by the surveyed municipalities proceed from with planning of roundabouts and pedestrian crossings. In the result it can be stated that with fast and relatively simple methods and steps are possible to improve pedestrian and cyclist safety on crossings at roundabouts.

The role of traffic officials in road management is very important not only to ensure a smooth flow of traffic, but also to prevent negligent and reckless driving, which could result in road accidents. In light of this, the current study embarked on a research journey to investigate the challenges facing traffic officials in Windhoek (Namibia) to reduce road accidents. To achieve the goal of this study, the researcher embarked on a qualitative research approach to obtain in-depth information from traffic officials regarding their experiences in reducing road accidents in Windhoek. Following a purposive sampling method to identify the research participants, the researcher also used semi-structured interviews to guide his interviews with the research participants. The problem in this study concerns the high number of road accidents within the Windhoek area. Between 2012 and 2016, the Namibian Police Force Report (2015/2016) recorded 3 052 accidents on Namibian roads, in which 5 289 people were injured and 524 killed. Motorists’ negative attitudes towards traffic laws and regulations, unroadworthy vehicles and poor road conditions were identified as the leading causes of road accidents and presented the biggest challenges to traffic officials. Some of the challenges that traffic officials encounter are in respect of law enforcement for motorists driving under the influence of alcohol, enforcement of speed restrictions, the limited number of traffic officials to do patrols, an insufficient number of cameras monitoring traffic lights, uncooperative witnesses during car accidents as well as corruption on the side of fellow traffic officials. In order to reduce the high rate of road accidents in Windhoek, this study recommends an increase in traffic officials’ visibility on the roads, clear standards and guidelines for vehicle inspection pertaining to roadworthiness, toll free lines for reporting corrupt traffic officials, cooperation among stakeholders as well as multilingual road safety educational programmes. / Seabe sa batlhankedi ba pharakano mo tsamaisong ya tsela se botlhokwa thata mme e seng fela go netefatsa gore pharakano e elela sentle, fela le go thibela go kgweetsa go go botlhaswa go go ka bakang dikotsi tsa tsela. Go lebeletswe seno, thutopatlisiso ya ga jaana e nnile leeto la patlisiso go batlisisa dikgwetlho tse di itemogelwang ke batlhankedi ba pharakano kwa Windhoek (Namibia) malebana le go fokotsa dikotsi tsa tsela. Go fitlhelela maitlhomo a thutopatlisiso eno, mmatlisisi o tsere molebo wa patlisiso o o lebelelang mabaka go bona tshedimosetso e e tseneletseng go tswa mo batlhankeding ba pharakano malebana le maitemogelo a bona mo go fokotseng dikotsi tsa tsela kwa Windhoek. Ka go dirisa mokgwa wa go tlhopha sampole go ya ka maikemisetso a thutopatlisiso go supa bannileseabe ba patlisiso, mmatlisisi o ne a dirisa gape dipotsolotso tse di batlileng di rulagane go kaela dipotsolotso tsa gagwe le bannileseabe ba patlisiso. Bothata jo bo mo thutopatlisisong eno bo malebana le palo e e kwa godimo ya dikotsi tsa tsela mo tikologong ya Windhoek. Magareng ga 2012 le 2016, Pegelo ya Sepodisi sa Namibia (2015/2016) e rekotile dikotsi di le 3 052 mo ditseleng tsa Namibia, moo batho ba le 5 289 ba gobetseng mme ba le 524 ba tlhokafetse. Maitsholo a bakgweetsi a a nyatsang melao le melawana ya pharakano, dikoloi tse di sa siamelang tsela mmogo le maemo a a sa siamang a ditsela di supilwe e le mabaka a magolo a a bakang dikotsi tsa tsela mme e le kgwetlho e kgolo mo batlhankeding ba pharakano. Dingwe tsa dikgwetlho tse di itemogelwang ke batlhankedi ba pharakano di malebana le tiragatso ya molao mo bakgweetsing ba ba kgweetsang ba nole nnotagi, tiragatso ya dipeelo tsa lebelo, palo e e lekanyeditsweng ya batlhankedi ba pharakano ba ba paterolang, palo e e tlhaelang ya dikhamera tse di tlhokomelang mabone a pharakano, dipaki tse di se nang tirisanommogo ka nako ya dikotsi tsa tsela gammogo le bobodu mo ntlheng ya badirammogo ba batlhankedi ba pharakano. Gore go fokodiwe kelo e e kwa godimo ya dikotsi tsa tsela kwa Windhoek, thutopatlisiso eno e atlenegisa gore go okediwe ponagalo ya batlhankedi ba pharakano mo ditseleng, dipeelo le dikaedi tse di malebana le tlhatlhobo ya dikoloi malebana le go siamela go nna mo tseleng, megala e e sa duelelweng gore go begwe batlhankedi ba pharakano ba ba tletseng bobodu, tirisanommogo magareng ga baamegi gammogo le mananeo a dipuodintsi a thuto ya ipabalelo tseleng. / Police Practice / M. Tech. (Policing)

Exclusive bus lanes and the Transit Signal Priority are often not effective in saturated peak-traffic conditions. An alternative way of providing priority for transit can be queue jumpers, which allows buses to bypass and then cut out in front of waiting queue by getting an early green signal. Utah Transit authority deployed Bus Rapid Transit system at Salt Lake County, Utah along W 3500 S. This research evaluates the impacts of queue jumpers with TSP on Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and private vehicular traffic. Four VISSIM models were developed for analysis : Basic scenario, no TSP with queue jumpers, TSP with no queue jumbers, and TSP with queue jumpers. In TQ scenario travel time was reduced between 13.2-19.82% with respect to basic scenario. At the same time, travel time of private traffic increased very little 0.38-3.28%. Two TSP strategies : green extension and red truncation are implemented in this research work. / by R.M. Zahid Reza. / Thesis (M.S.C.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2012. / Includes bibliography. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / System requirements: Adobe Reader.

Este trabalho analisa os impactos do novo Código de Trânsito Brasileiro no trânsito urbano e outros aspectos relacionados com o novo código. Para isso foram realizados estudos nas seguintes cidades: Ribeirão Preto (SP), São Carlos (SP), Araraquara (SP), Curitiba (PR) e Ponta Grossa (PR). São enfocados no estudo os seguintes principais tópicos: segurança viária, obediência dos usuários às leis e regras de trânsito, opinião pública sobre o novo código e sobre o sistema de trânsito e gestão do trânsito. Também é apresentado no trabalho uma análise comparativa dos sistemas de trânsito nas cidades estudadas, utilizando índices apropriados. Essa análise é complementada mediante a comparação com índices relativos a outras cidades. O novo Código de Trânsito Brasileiro tem a aprovação da grande maioria da população e tem apresentado resultados bastante satisfatórios no tocante a redução dos acidentes e das mortes no trânsito urbano. / The impacts of the new Brazillian Traffic Code at the urban traffic and others aspects related to the new code is analysed in this work. The following cities were analysed: Ribeirão Preto (SP), São Carlos (SP), Araraquara (SP), Curitiba (PR) and Ponta Grossa (PR). The main aims focussed are: traffic safety, users obedience to the laws and traffic norms, public opinion about the new code and about traffic system, traffic management, etc. lt also presented in this work a comparative analyses of the Traffic System at the studied cities, for that appropriate index are used. This analyses is complemented using the comparison with relatives indexs from others cities. The New Brazillian Traffic Code has the approval of the greatest number of the population and has presented very satisfactories results about the reduction of accidents and deaths at the urban traffic.

Traditional intersections have always caused congestion, delay, and accidents. There are numerous geometric intersection designs that best fit each situation. This study performed an operational and safety comparison with unsignalized/signalized offset, Tintersections, a two-lane roundabout, and a modified roundabout to decrease the overall travel delay and increase the safety using a case study. Using data from a government source, all designs were tested in a calibrated micro simulation model and traffic signals were optimized using a signal optimization platform. Each design was tested with various balancing schemes, left turn percentages, and hourly volumes to determine the failure point. The unsignalized/signalized offset T-intersections, two-lane roundabout, and modified roundabout were compared by throughputs, travel delay, and travel time. After analysis, it was determined that the modified roundabout performed the best out of any design. All approaches had minimum travel delay while reducing the number of conflict points considerably with the modified roundabout. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2014. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Neste trabalho é apresentada a aplicação da Técnica Sueca de Análise de Conflitos de Tráfego em 5 (cinco) interseções críticas da cidade de São Carlos. Baseado nos resultados obtidos, são propostas ações simples e de baixo custo para aumentar a segurança viária nos locais estudados. Uma das propostas foi implementada tornando possível avaliar o desempenho do cruzamento após a implantação utilizando a Técnica Sueca de Análise de Conflitos de Tráfego. Esta implantação apresentou resultados bastante satisfatórios, proporcionando redução drástica no número e gravidade dos conflitos. A experiência na aplicação da Técnica Sueca de Análise de Conflitos de Tráfego em São Carlos mostra ser a mesma uma ferramenta bastante útil para análise da segurança viária em locais críticos, sobretudo proporcionando informações fundamentais na definição de ações para reduzir os conflitos e, consequentemente, os acidentes. / In this work we present the Application of the Swedish Technique of Traffic Conflict Analysis in 5 (five) critical intersections in the city of São Carlos. Based on the obtained results, simple and low-cost actions are proposed in order to increase the traffic safety in the studied places. One of the proposals has been put in practice enabling the evaluation of the crossing performance after having implanted the Swedish Technique of Traffic Conflict Analysis. This implantation has presented quite satisfactory results, providing drastic reduction both in number and seriousness of the conflicts. The experience in the Application of the Swedish Technique of Traffic Conflict Analysis shows it to be a very useful tool for the traffic safety analysis in critical places, overall providing essential information in the action definition to reduce the conflicts, and consequently the accidents.

Neste trabalho é apresentada a aplicação da Técnica Sueca de Análise de Conflitos de Tráfego em 5 (cinco) interseções críticas da cidade de São Carlos. Baseado nos resultados obtidos, são propostas ações simples e de baixo custo para aumentar a segurança viária nos locais estudados. Uma das propostas foi implementada tornando possível avaliar o desempenho do cruzamento após a implantação utilizando a Técnica Sueca de Análise de Conflitos de Tráfego. Esta implantação apresentou resultados bastante satisfatórios, proporcionando redução drástica no número e gravidade dos conflitos. A experiência na aplicação da Técnica Sueca de Análise de Conflitos de Tráfego em São Carlos mostra ser a mesma uma ferramenta bastante útil para análise da segurança viária em locais críticos, sobretudo proporcionando informações fundamentais na definição de ações para reduzir os conflitos e, consequentemente, os acidentes. / In this work we present the Application of the Swedish Technique of Traffic Conflict Analysis in 5 (five) critical intersections in the city of São Carlos. Based on the obtained results, simple and low-cost actions are proposed in order to increase the traffic safety in the studied places. One of the proposals has been put in practice enabling the evaluation of the crossing performance after having implanted the Swedish Technique of Traffic Conflict Analysis. This implantation has presented quite satisfactory results, providing drastic reduction both in number and seriousness of the conflicts. The experience in the Application of the Swedish Technique of Traffic Conflict Analysis shows it to be a very useful tool for the traffic safety analysis in critical places, overall providing essential information in the action definition to reduce the conflicts, and consequently the accidents.