Citation

Montella A, Galante F, Mauriello F, Pariota L. Transp. Res. Rec. 2015; 2492: 10-22.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences USA, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.3141/2492-02

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This study investigated, by means of a dynamic driving simulator experiment, driver behavior at curves on rural two-lane highways in relation to different advance warning signs, perceptual measures, and delineation treatments. The tested treatments were intended to alert drivers to the presence of low-radius curves and to affect their behavior in the approach to the curve as well as along the curve itself. The study results showed that the advance warning signs, perceptual measures, and delineation treatments tested in the driving simulator experiment produced significant effects on driver behavior. The perceptual treatments (i.e., colored transverse strips, dragon teeth markings, colored median island) were the most effective treatments because they produced significant speed reductions in the approach tangent as well as inside the curve. Deceleration behavior in the approach to the curve was affected significantly by the presence of treatments that helped drivers to detect the curve earlier; early detection provided more time to perform deceleration maneuvers at lower rates. The study results strongly supported the real-world implementation of colored transverse strips, dragon teeth markings, and the colored median island. Implementation of the tested measures should be conducted on similar rural highways to validate general application of the results of this study to other regions.