A Comparative Study on Speed Control Effects on an Expressway

With the rapid development of expressway systems, traffic safety issues caused by speeding have been concerned by the public. Speed limit, as one of the most common safety measurements, plays an irreplaceable role in the protection of traveler safety. Therefore, a comparative study on speed control effect of speed limit facilities on the expressways is of practical significance for ensuring traveler safety and operation efficiency. In this paper, the Beijing-Hong Kong-Macao Expressway was selected as a sample site for on-site speed surveys. Four types of the speed limit control modes of expressway, including color pavement, vibration marking, deceleration marking, and portal frame, were chosen. The speed of cars and large size vehicles were collected. On the base of speed surveys, the evaluation system was developed and a comparative study on the evaluation of speed control effects was accomplished. The positive effect of the proposed improvements of speed limits was verified.