Predicting Speeds in an Urban Right-Turn Lane
Publication: Journal of Transportation Engineering
Volume 132, Issue 3
Abstract
Right-turn lanes are used to provide space for the deceleration and storage of turning vehicles and to separate the turning vehicles from the through movement. When larger corner radii are used at the right turn, vehicles can turn at higher speeds (thereby minimizing speed differential between turning and through vehicles). A concern with the higher operating speed is the challenge it provides pedestrians. This project analyzed the impact of right-turn treatments on right-turn vehicles speeds at 19 urban approaches. Each approach had an exclusive right-turn lane that was separated from the through lane with either a lane line or a raised corner island. The 85th percentile free-flow speed near the middle of the right turn ranged from 20.9 to while on the approach it ranged from 27.4 to . Speed prediction equations were developed as part of this study.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
This paper is based on research sponsored by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration (FHwA). It was performed by the Texas Transportation Institute. The contents of this paper reflect the views of the writers, who are responsible for the facts and the accuracy of the data presented herein. The contents do not necessarily reflect the official views or polices of TxDOT or FHwA.
References
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). (2001). A policy on geometric design of highways and streets, AASHTO, Washington, D.C.
Emmerson, J. (1970). “A note on speed-road curvature relationships.” Traffic Eng. Control, 12(7).
Fitzpatrick, K., et al. (2000). “Speed prediction for two-lane rural highways.” Rep. No. FHWA-RD-99-171, Washington, D.C.
Fitzpatrick, K., Blaschke, J. D., Shamburger, C. B., Krammes, R. A., and Fambro, D. B. (1995). “Compatibility of design speed, operating speed, and posted speed.” Rep. No. FHWA/TX-95/1465-2F, College Station, Tex.
Fitzpatrick, K., and Schneider, W. H., IV. (2004). “Turn speeds in right-turn lanes.” Rep. No. FHWA/TX-05/0-4365-4, College Station, Tex.
Killing speed: Saving lives. (1992). Department of Transport, London.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). (2000). “Literature review on vehicle travel speeds and pedestrian injuries.” Traffic Tech Number 215, NHTSA, Washington, D.C. ⟨http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/portal/site/nhtsa/menuitem.5928da45f99592381601031046108a0c/⟩ (July 2005).
Wallwork, M. (2004). “Walking.” Real Intersection Design Course, Institute of Transportation Engineers, Orlando, Fla.
Zegeer, C. V., Seiderman, C., Lagerwey, P., Cynecki, M., Ronkin, M., and Schneider, R. (2002). “Pedestrian facilities users guide—Providing safety and mobility.” Rep. No. FHWA-RD-01-102, Federal Highway Administration, Washington, D.C.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
© 2006 ASCE.
History
Received: Dec 28, 2004
Accepted: May 6, 2005
Published online: Mar 1, 2006
Published in print: Mar 2006
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.