Time Reliability Evaluation of Highway Networks during Public Holidays Based on Detector Data: A Case Study of Guizhou Province

In China, heavy traffic jams often occur on highways because of economic development and a toll exemption policy on highways during public holidays. Previous studies seldom involved reliability evaluation of regional highway networks, especially during public holidays. Study of holiday highway operation reliability is of significance for holiday travel management and guidance. Based on highway network geographic data and highway detector data, reliability of highway network in Guizhou province was evaluated and analyses show the following results: (1) the highways have high time reliability and no obvious non-holiday peak; (2) average vehicle speed at 12:00 noon can be used as the optimal free flow velocity; (3) only part of the highway’s time reliability significantly reduced during public holiday; and (4) traffic guidance information release should be real-time, especially during holidays. At the end of this paper, we present some suggestions for travel management and travel guidance on highway during public holidays.