Investigating the effects of roadway design on driver behavior : applications for Minnesota highway design

41876269Final report 1999PDFResearch PaperMN/RC-1999-10(C) 74708 TOC#28Highway designDriversBehaviorTraffic calmingHuman factorsMinnesotaMinnesota. Dept. of TransportationScallen, S.Carmody, J.University of MinnesotaNTL-HIGHWAY/ROAD TRANSPORTATION-HIGHWAY/ROAD TRANSPORTATIONNTL-HIGHWAY/ROAD TRANSPORTATION-DesignNTL-PLANNING AND POLICY-Public Participation and OutreachNTL-PLANNING AND POLICY-PLANNING AND POLICYUS Transportation CollectionThis report details a project to study the relationship between highway design and human behavior as influenced by roadside environments. The project was developed in two phases. In the visualization phase, computer simulation was used to model an actual segment of urban highway planned for reconstruction in Tofte, Minn. Using a driving simulator, project design team members test drove the highway reconstruction project and evaluated the planned elements. In an experimentation phase, researchers tested drivers' responses to different design scenarioes to identify the architectural ad aesthetic elements with the greatest potential for calming or slowing traffic. Results indicated that the visualization phase increased communication among project team members and state agencies, facilitated problem identification-resolution strategy development, and contributed to decision making concerning potential design options and design elements. Data also indicated that white pavement treatments produced desirable traffic calming effects. Analyses of drivers' speed patterns indicated a consistent speed profile, characterized by both decreases and increases in speed. The report concludes with recommendations for the expanded use of visualization in general, and the implementation of white pavement treatments in the target reconsruction project specifically. It also recommends further consideration of landscape architecture treatments