Evaluation of Dynamic Passing Sight Distance Problem Using a Finite-Element Model
Publication: Journal of Transportation Engineering
Volume 134, Issue 6
Abstract
Sufficient passing sight distance is an important control for two-lane rural highway design to minimize the possibility of a head-on collision between passing and opposing vehicles. Traditionally, passing zones are marked by checking passing sight distance that is potentially restricted by static sight obstructions. Such obstructions include crest curves, overpasses, and lateral objects along highways. This paper proposes a new concept of dynamic sight-distance assessment, which involves restricted passing sight distances due to the impeding vehicles that are traveling in the same direction. Using a finite-element model, the dynamic passing sight-distance problem was evaluated, and the writers analyzed the relationships between the available passing sight distance and other factors such as the horizontal curve radius, impeding vehicle dimensions, and a driver’s following distance. It was found that the impeding vehicles may cause substantially insufficient passing sight distances, which may lead to potential traffic safety problems. It is worthwhile to expand on this safety issue and consider the dynamic passing sight distance in highway design.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
AASHTO. (2004). A policy on geometric design of highways and street, AASHTO, Washington, D.C.
Berg, W. D., Choi, J., and Kuipers, E. J. (1989). “Development of highway alignment information from photolog data.” Transportation Research Record. 1239, Transportation Research Board, 54–61.
Easa, S. M. (1991). “Lateral clearance to vision obstacles on horizontal curves.” Transportation Research Record. 1303, Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C., 22–32.
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). (2000). Manual on uniform traffic control devices for streets and highways, FHWA, Washington, D.C.
Glennon, J. C. (1988). “New and improved model of passing sight distance on two-lane highways.” Transportation Research Record. 1195, Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C., 132–137.
Harwood, D. W., and Glennon, J. C. (1989). “Passing sight-distance design for passenger cars and trucks.” Transportation Research Record. 1208, Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C., 59–69.
Hassan, Y., Easa, S. M., and Abd EI Halim, A. O. (1995). “Sight distance on horizontal alignments with continuous lateral obstructions.” Transportation Research Record. 1500, Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C., 31–42.
Hassan, Y., Easa, S. M., and Abd EI Halim, A. O. (1996a). “Analytical model for sight distance analysis on three-dimensional highway alignments.” Transportation Research Record. 1523, Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C., 1–10.
Hassan, Y., Easa, S. M., and Abd El Halim, A. O. (1996b). “Passing sight distance on two-lane highways: Review and revision.” Transp. Res., Part A: Policy Pract., 30(6), 453–467.
Hassan, Y., Easa, S. M., and Abd El Halim, A. O. (1997). “Modeling headlight sight distance on three-dimensional highway alignments.” Transportation Research Record. 1579, Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C., 79–88.
Hughes, W. E., Joshua, S., and McGee, H. W. (1992). “Study designs for passing sight-distance requirements.” Final Rep. FHWA-RD-91-078, Federal Highway Administration, Washington, D.C.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). (2005). GES analytical user’s manual 1988–2005, NHTSA, Washington, D.C.
Rilett, L. R., Hutchinson, B. G., and Whitney, M. (1990). “Mechanics of the passing maneuver and the impact of large trucks.” Transp. Res., Part A: Policy Pract., 24, 121–128.
van Valkenberg, G. W., and Michael, H. L. (1971). “Criteria for no-passing zones.” Highway Research Record. 366, Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C., 1–9.
Waissi, G. R., and Cleveland, D. E. (1987). “Sight-distance relationships involving horizontal curves.” Transportation Research Record. 1122, Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C., 96–107.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
© 2008 ASCE.
History
Received: Nov 21, 2006
Accepted: Dec 14, 2007
Published online: Jun 1, 2008
Published in print: Jun 2008
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.