In order to evaluate the service level of roundabouts intuitively, a new delay model of signalized roundabouts is established. According to traffic flow characteristics in the signalized roundabout, vehicle delays on roundabouts are divided into two parts: entrance delay and circulating lane delay. Entrance delay is calculated by the delay model in HCM2010. Circulating lane delay is studied by analyzing conflict behavior in signalized roundabouts, and the delay models of traffic flows turning in different directions are established based on the motorcade analysis method. Finally,the simulation software Vissim, calibrated with field data, is used to verify the model. The simulation results showthat the average relative error of the model is 10. 1%, meeting the accuracy requirements. Therefore, the delay model properly reflects the operation efficiency of a roundabout, and can thus provide a scientific basis for the design of control schemes.
Liu HuanfengSong XianminZhang LibinTao PengfeiYang Qiujie
Due to the fact that there is no protected signal phase for right turns at most signalized intersections, the conflict between pedestrians and right-turning vehicles is one of the most common conflict types for pedestrians. A pedestrian safety analysis of the common right-turn mode at four-phase signalized intersections is presented. Relative risk is used as a measure of the effect of behaviors. The analysis mainly includes five pedestrian factors that affect the conflict process between pedestrians and right-turning vehicles. Pedestrians tend to have a higher risk of being involved in conflicts in the following six situations: crossing with others, running over the crossing, entering the intersection, being near the exit lane, crossing in the middle or at the end of a green light when the right-turn lane is shared, crossing at the beginning of a green light or red period when the right-turn lane is exclusive. It is easier for pedestrians to get priority when crossing the street in the following situations: running over a crossing, entering the intersection, being near the entrance lane, and not using the crosswalk. However, pedestrians are more inclined to yield to right-turning vehicles when pedestrians are crossing in the middle of the green light time. Some measures to alleviate the conflict are put forward according to the conclusion. Video observations also indicate that a clear pedestrian waiting area must be marked for both pedestrian safety and right-turning vehicle efficiency at major flat intersections, particularly when the arms cover the lateral dividing strips.
The effects of the interactions between bi-directional pedestrians on the crossing time and the crosswalk width are studied. Firstly,the crossing process of bi-directional pedestrians is analyzed.The total crosswalk time is divided into a discharge time and a crossing time. The interactions between bi-directional pedestrians are quantified with the drag force theory. Then,a model is developed to study the crossing time based on the kinetic energy theory and momentum theory. Subsequently,the related parameters of the proposed model are calibrated with observed information. The relationships among crosswalk width,signal time,pedestrian volume and level of service are simulated with the proposed model. The results are verified and compared with other models. The proposed model has an absolute value of relative error of 9. 38%,which is smaller than that of the Alhajyaseen model( 15. 26%) and Highway Capacity Manual( HCM) model( 12. 42%). Finally,suggested crosswalk widths at different conditions are successfully estimated with the proposed crossing time model.
Ningbo CaoYongheng ChenZhaowei QuLiying ZhaoYanfei LiQiujie Yang
The phenomenon that pedestrians do not walk in the crosswalk during pedestrian green is defined as overflow violation, which is illegal but common. Broadly varying crossing positions at far-side cross-section may result in widely distributed conflict points with left-turning and right-turning vehicles, which may cause the occurrence of severe conflicts. This paper proposes a model to estimate the overflow pedestrians' crossing positions at the far-side cross-section of signalized crosswalk, which enables us to better understand pedestrian overflow violation behavior and finally facilitate their safety. After analysis, the intersection geometry and destination are determined as the critical factors causing pedestrians to overflow. And then, Weibull distribution is employed to describe the stochastic characteristics of overflow pedestrians' crossing position distribution at the far-side cross-section. A crossing position distribution model which takes the crosswalk length, width and distance between crosswalk and destination into account is developed. The established model is validated by comparing the observed pedestrian crossing positions with the estimated crossing positions. The validation results suggest that the established model is capable of being adopted to estimate the overflow pedestrians' crossing positions at far-side cross-section. Based on the model, countermeasure for overflow violation can be put forward to prevent pedestrians from walking outside the crosswalk.