Citation

Garcia-Castro A, Monzon A. Transp. Telecommun. J. 2014; 15(2): 130-143.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Transporta un sakaru instituts (Latvia), Publisher Walter de Gruyter)

DOI

10.2478/ttj-2014-0012

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Changing factors (mainly traffic intensity and weather conditions) affecting road conditions require a suitable optimal speed at any time. To solve this problem, variable speed limit systems (VSL) - as opposed to fixed limits - have been developed in recent decades. This term has included a number of speed management systems, most notably dynamic speed limits (DSL). In order to avoid the indiscriminate use of both terms in the literature, this paper proposes a simple classification and offers a review of some experiences, how their effects are evaluated and their results This study also presents a key indicator which measures the speed homogeneity and a methodology to obtain the data based on floating cars and GPS technology applying it to a case study on a section of the M30 urban motorway in Madrid (Spain). It also presents the relation between this indicator and road performance and emissions values.