A Simulator Study On The Impact of Traffic Calming Measures in Urban Areas On Driving Behavior And Workload

Abstract

This study examined the impact of traffic calming measures (TCM) on major roads in rural urban areas. More specifically we investigated the effect of gate constructions located at the entrance of the urban area and horizontal curves within the urban area on driving behavior and workload. Forty-six participants completed a 34 km test-drive on a driving simulator with eight thoroughfare configurations, i.e., 2 (curves: present, absent) x 2 (gates: present, absent) x 2 (peripheral detection task (PDT): present, absent) in a within-subject design. PDT performance (mean response time (RT) and hit rate) indicated that drivers experience the road outside the urban area as cognitively less demanding relative to the more complex road environment inside the urban area. Whereas curves induced a speed reduction that was sustained throughout the entire urban area, variability of acceleration/deceleration and lateral position were increased. In addition, PDT performance indicated higher workload when curves were present (versus absent). Gate constructions only locally reduced speed (i.e., shortly before and after the entrance) and increased variability of acceleration/deceleration and lateral position nearby the entrance.