Citation

Michaels RM. Highw. Res. Board bull. 1962; 330: 16-25.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1962, National Research Council (U.S.A.), Highway Research Board)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

An attempt was made to use the galvanic skin response technique to dfferentiate among the characteristics of four different expressway designs under different expressway designs under different volume conditions. Six test subjects drove an 8- to 10-mi section of each highway four to eight times and events causing a speed or placement change were recorded. Only gsr aroused by the observed events was analyzed. The data were broken down by routes, volume, type of conflicts, and subjects. Using the analysis of variance it was found that there were signigicant differences among the designs on both design and traffic characteristics. Correcting for volume it was found that the interstate design highway generated the lowest gsr rate relative to traffic interferences with the parkway and divided highway with only partial control of access generating the highest. On interferences related to design features, however, the interstate design yielded the highest gsr rate. One reason for this reversal appears to be the higher speeds on the interstate system. This relation between gsr rate and volume was statistically reliable, showing a linear change up to volumes of 1,400 vehicles per lane per hour. For volumes greater than that, the gsr rate rose exponentially up to the maximum volume of 1,800 vehicles per lane per hour. The results indicate that the gsr rate is directly related to the frequency of interferences and their relative predictability up to the point where the information load becomes excessive. At this point tension increases very rapidly. Also, the data indicate that modern highway design eliminates a large part of the major traffic conflicts. However, this reduction apparently leads to an increases in speed, which causes increased tension arousal from interaction with the physical characteristics themselves. Thus, gsr rate on highway interferences is higher on the highway of the most modern design.