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Modeling of the Relationship Between Speed Limit and Characteristic Speed of Expressway Traffic Flow

Author

Listed:
  • Jie Yang

    (School of Highway, Chang´an University, Xi´an 710064, China)

  • Jinliang Xu

    (School of Highway, Chang´an University, Xi´an 710064, China)

  • Chao Gao

    (School of Highway, Chang´an University, Xi´an 710064, China)

  • Guohua Bai

    (School of Highway, Chang´an University, Xi´an 710064, China)

  • Linfang Xie

    (School of Highway, Chang´an University, Xi´an 710064, China)

  • Menghui Li

    (China Harbour Engineering Company Limited, NO.9 Chunxiu Road, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100027, China)

Abstract

Understanding the relationship between speed limit and characteristic speed of expressway traffic flow is of great significance for formulating a reasonable speed limit scheme and improving highway safety and transportation efficiency. In this study, the speed data of the same traffic flow passing through speed limits of 80, 100, and 120 km/h were continuously collected through a field test. The 85th, 15th, and 50th percentile speeds were considered the characteristic speed parameters of the traffic flow. A regression analysis was performed to establish a relationship between the characteristic speed parameters of the traffic flow and the speed limit. Under a free-flow state, the characteristic speed exhibited a strong linear relationship with the speed limit, where the variation ranges of the 85th and 50th percentile speeds were approximately consistent with that of the speed limit. However, a slight inconsistency was found for the 15th percentile speed, which was approximately half the speed limit increase; under a non-free-flow state, the correlation between the speed limit and the vehicle speed was no longer significant.

Suggested Citation

  • Jie Yang & Jinliang Xu & Chao Gao & Guohua Bai & Linfang Xie & Menghui Li, 2019. "Modeling of the Relationship Between Speed Limit and Characteristic Speed of Expressway Traffic Flow," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(17), pages 1-12, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:17:p:4621-:d:260886
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lave, Charles & Elias, Patrick, 1994. "Did the 65 mph Speed Limit Save Lives?," University of California Transportation Center, Working Papers qt0z88b38t, University of California Transportation Center.
    2. Himes, Scott C. & Donnell, Eric T. & Porter, Richard J., 2013. "Posted speed limit: To include or not to include in operating speed models," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 23-33.
    3. Yaping Dong & Jinliang Xu & Xingliang Liu & Chao Gao & Han Ru & Zhihao Duan, 2019. "Carbon Emissions and Expressway Traffic Flow Patterns in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-12, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jan Kunkler & Maximilian Braun & Florian Kellner, 2021. "Speed Limit Induced CO 2 Reduction on Motorways: Enhancing Discussion Transparency through Data Enrichment of Road Networks," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-22, January.

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