Everett, Lucas (2017) Effectiveness of Variable Speed Limit Control Devices in Queensland. [USQ Project]
Abstract
Australia’s driving population has been increasing significantly over the last 3 decades. Since 2014 the number of registered vehicle has risen approximately 100 000 each year and as a result many road networks are reaching capacity during the morning commute. To mitigate congestion, reduce crashes and improve highway performance the road authorities look to intelligent road management technology to improve the road network. Variable Speed Limits Signs are among the Intelligent Transport Systems being implemented across the country. Variable Speed Limits are relatively new to Queensland’s trac management systems. This dissertation investigated the effectiveness of Variable Speed Limits using data collected from 5 treatment sites. It investigated through Geometric, Crash Reduction, Trac Volume and Speed analysis as well as Trac Behaviour analysis.
It was found that the sites were well designed when compared to the geometric design guidelines and placement of the signs. Where initial pre-implementation crashes were high, it was found that VSLS had a positive effect on trac safety by reducing crashes. However, lack of crash data for 2016/17 made it difficult to draw conclusions for the sites that were only activated in 2016 and 2017. The trac volume and speed analysis showed the relationship between volume and speed as the highway reached capacity during the peak period. The trac analysis showed there has been improvements in capacity from manually activated Variable Speed Limits Signs to Algorithm automated signs. By investigation of the trac speed verse displayed speed plots, it was found that drivers are generally compliant to the Variable Speed Limit Signs. However, during the hypothesis testing it was found that the mean speed was significantly higher when the variable speed limit was 60 km/h.
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| Item Type: | USQ Project |
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| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Additional Information: | Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Civil) |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Historic - Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Civil Engineering and Surveying (1 Jul 2013 - 31 Dec 2021) |
| Supervisors: | Somasundaraswaran, Soma |
| Date Deposited: | 07 Sep 2022 03:12 |
| Last Modified: | 07 Sep 2022 03:12 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | speed limit; control device; Queensland |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/40847 |
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