Minimum Clearance Offsets for Providing Desired Stopping Sight Distances at Simple Curves with Variable Operating Speeds

Lateral clearance on the inside of horizontal curves is required by all geometric design guidelines in order to provide at least stopping sight distance. There already exist graphical models, analytical models, and design charts for determining minimum clearance offsets to meet the requirement. Some of these models determine the offsets based on constant design sight distance values on the assumption that drivers negotiate horizontal curves at constant speed. Therefore, those models are suitable for sites where there is no difference in speeds between tangent and curved sections. Past studies have reported that there are sites where drivers decelerate on entering horizontal curves and accelerate on departing from the curves. At those sites stopping sight distance for a given driver varies with driver location due to variable speed. This paper presents an analytical model and a chart for determining minimum offsets needed to provide desired sight distances at horizontal curves with variable operating speeds. At those sites the offsets yield roadside clearance boundaries that have transition arcs with performances that are similar to those of elliptical arcs. Therefore, practitioners may choose to use elliptical equations or equations and the chart developed herein. Results of this study will be of value to practitioners in the area of roadside design.

Interchange Sight Distance and Design: Aspects and Implementation

The primary purpose of an interchange is to enable an appropriate level of access to the freeway in a safe and beneficial way to the driver. It improves road safety and traffic operation by reducing or eliminating traffic conflicts that would occur if grade separation were not provided (e.g. intersection). Crossing conflicts are eliminated and turning conflicts are either eliminated or minimized. The paper focuses on sight distance criteria in the geometric design of interchanges and junctions, specifically, implementation of stopping sight distance (SSD) and decision sight distance (DSD). These issues incorporate implementation of sight distance policy for: ramps’ geometric design, ramp terminals’ components, and basic lanes’ reduction. These sight distance criteria can alleviate safety by reducing conflicts and confusion to the driver and by keeping alignment simple, direct, and consistent. Specifically, DSD affects traffic control and intelligent transportation systems applications.

Analytical Determination of Size and Location of Roadside Horizontal Sightline Offsets for Compound Curves

AASHTO’s guideline for geometric design of highways and similar guidelines require that roadside areas on the inside of horizontal curves be cleared of high objects to provide stopping sight distance. The guidelines have analytical models for determining the extent of clearance, known as the horizontal sightline offset or clearance offset, for simple curves. Researchers in the past have developed analytical models for clearance offsets for spiraled and reverse curves. Very few researchers developed analytical models for available sight distances for compound curves. Still missing are models for horizontal sightline offsets and locations of the offsets for compound curves. The objective of this paper is to present development of analytical models and charts for determining horizontal sightline offsets and their locations for compound curves. The paper considers curves whose component arcs are individually shorter than stopping sight distance. The resulting models and the charts have been verified with accurate values determined using graphical methods. The models and the charts will find application in geometric design of highway compound curves.

Intelligent speed adaptation for visibility technology affects drivers’speed selection along curves with sight limitations

Sight obstructions along road curves can lead to a crash if the driver is not able to stop the vehicle in time.This is a particular issue along curves with limited available sight,where speed management is necessary to avoid unsafe situations(e.g.,driving off the road or invading the other traffic lane).To solve this issue,we proposed a novel intelligent speed adaptation(ISA)system for visibility,called V-ISA(intelligent speed adaptation for visibility).It estimates the real-time safe speed limits based on the prevailing sight conditions.V-ISA comes with three variants with specific feedback modalities(1)visual and(2)auditory information,and(3)direct intervention to assume control over the vehicle speed.Here,we investigated the efficiency of each of the three V-ISA variants on driving speed choice and lateral behavioural response along road curves with limited and unsafe available sight distances,using a driving simulator.We also considered curve road geometry(curve direction:rightward vs.leftward).Sixty active drivers were recruited for the study.While half of them(experimental group)tested the three V-ISA variants(and a V-ISA off condition),the other half always drove with the V-ISA off(validation group).We used a linear mixed-effect model to evaluate the influence of V-ISA on driver behaviour.All V-ISA variants were efficient at reducing speeds at entrance points,with no discernible negative impact on driver lateral behaviour.On rightward curves,the V-ISA intervening variant appeared to be the most effective at adapting to sight limitations.Results of the current study implies that V-ISA might assist drivers to adjust their operating speed as per prevailing sight conditions and,consequently,establishes safer driving conditions.

Influence of rainfall on skid resistance performance and driving safety conditions of asphalt pavements

To study the influence of rainfall on pavement skid-resistance performance and driving safety,the water film thickness(WFT)concept considering the longitudinal and transverse slopes of the pavement was utilized based on the total discharge formulation and turbulence theory of slope flow.Using experimental data measured using the British pendulum test under varying WFT levels,a model for calculating the skid resistance,namely the British pendulum number(BPN),was formulated and used to quantitatively evaluate the effects of rainfall intensity,transverse,and longitudinal slopes on the computed BPN.The study results reveal that skid resistance is linearly proportional to the pavement transverse slope and inversely proportional to the rainfall intensity and the pavement longitudinal slope.In particular,rainfall intensity,along with pavement texture depth,exhibited a significant impact on the tire-pavement friction and skid-resistance performance.The results further indicate that driving safety under wet weather is predominantly governed by skid resistance and visibility.The BPN and sideway force coefficient(SFC60)values for new asphalt pavements under different rainfall intensities are provided along with some modification to the stopping sight distance(SSD)criteria.Safe driving speed limits are also determined using a safe-driving model to develop the appropriate speed limit strategies.The overall study results provide some insights,methodology approach,and reference data for the evaluation of pavement skid-resistance performance and driving safety conditions under different pavement slopes and rainfall intensities.

Radius model of convex vertical curve of freeway based on attachment coefficient

A longitudinal slope brake model was established for the radius calculation of vertical curve of freeway through analyzing the dynamics of brake-running of vehicles running on the longitudinal slope road section. To satisfy the requirement of sight distance, a relation model was established for the attachment coefficient and the convex vertical curve radius. Using MATLAB simulation technique, the convex vertical curve radius at different attachment conditions was calculated accurately and a three-dimensional figure was drawn to describe the relation between the adhesive coefficient, the driving velocity and the radius of vertical curve. The correlation between the convex vertical curve radius and the adhesive coefficient was further analyzed and compared with National Technical Standards. The suggested radius of vertical curve was then put forward to provide a theoretical platform for the security design of the convex vertical curve.

DEVELOPMENT OF RETINAL STRUCTURE AND VISUAL ACUITY IN JAPANESE FLOUNDER(PARALICHTHYS OLIVACEUS)

The retinal structure and visual acuity in Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus at different stages of development were examined by light microscopy. The resolving power of the retina, the visual axis and the best visual field were estimated based on the distribution of cone cells in the retina. The visual system of the larvae appears poorly developed at hatching. The larvae with total length (TL) of less than 10 mm, have single cones only and the eyes were well pigmented. At 10-11 mm TL, most single cones fused to form double cones, with the single and double cones forming a mosaic pattern. From larvae to early juvenile the retina stretches, the cones increase in diameter and rods increase in number. Based on the highest density of the cones in the ventro temporal region, the visual axis was orientated up forward. The resolving power of the retina in 40-530 mm TL Japanese flounder was found to range from 25.1 to 11.5 min. The results indicated continual improvements in the visual system of the growing fish towards higher resolving power, visual acuity and sensitivity.