Citation

Roszell BJ, Braaksma JP. Transp. Res. Rec. 1980; 782: 9-16.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1980, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences USA, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The results of research conducted to determine what factors most strongly affect variations in drivers' speed patterns along a roadway are described. Field surveys were conducted on the Gatineau Parkway in Quebec to collect data on the following factors: (a) driver age and sex, (b) vehicle age and size, (c) number of occupants in the vehicle, and (d) geometric configuration of the highway. Speed-change data were divided into three components: (a) frequency of speed changes along the parkway, (b) magnitude of the speed change, and (c) direction (increase or decrease) of the speed change. Analysis of covariance was used to determine the degree of relationship between the first two components and the driver, vehicle, and geometric variables. A manual overlay technique was used to analyze the third component, to check the statistical results, and to verify a technique developed by Leisch to obtain speed profiles. The study found that route geometry and driver age played a significant role in the frequency of speed changes. Driver variables such as age and sex were the most significant factors affecting the magnitude of speed changes. Route geometry affected the magnitude of speed change much less than did the location of the speed change, and it affected the direction of speed changes much less than did driver age.