20/09/2016

CVG 4150
Fall 2016

Lecture 3
Roadway Design

Facult de gnie| Faculty of Engineering

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 Dilemma zone

Human Factors

When approaching a signalized intersection at high

speeds and the light turns yellow, the dilemma zone is
the space from the intersection to the point on the road
where it may be difficult for the driver to discern
whether they should run the yellow light or brake to be
safe.

A properly selected yellow duration () that
incorporates the motion of vehicle during the drivers
perception-reaction time can eliminate this problem

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20/09/2016

Human Factors
 Dilemma zone

The distance that a vehicle can travel to stop successfully: x

Distance to clear the intersection: x + w + L

For successful stopping

Stopping line (2)
vo

Clearing line (1)

w

   

 
2 

Maximum braking Braking distance at

deceleration a2
distance

Smallest deceleration rate
to accomplish the task


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2
   

Human Factors
 Dilemma zone

Rectangular parabola with an asymptote, at x = v02

Comfortable deceleration rate, a*
a2*=4 to 5 (ft/s2)
=1.22 to 1.52 (m/s2)

 
2
   
a2*=8 to 10 (ft/s2)
=2.44 to 3.05 (m/s2)

xc : Minimum distance for which a

vehicle can be stopped comfortably
 


 
2 
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20/09/2016

Human Factors

 Dilemma zone

Successful clearing maneuver
x + w + L v01 v0 ( 1 ) + 2 a1 ( 1 )

2     
2


   
   

Acceleration needed to clear the intersection


      Maximum distance between the vehicle and the stop line

from which the vehicle can clear the intersection without

accelerating
a1

Stopping
line
vo

Clearing
line
w

a1*

(xa, a1*)
x

xa

xo
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 Dilemma zone

Change the speed limit

Select an appropriate minimum duration
for the amber signal phase (xc = xo)

 




2 


Vehicle length, human factors,

and speed limit

Cannot
Stop

xc
xo>xc

Cannot
go

xo
(a)
xc
xo=xc
xo
(b)

xc

xo<xc
Dilemma zone

xo
(c)

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 Dilemma zone Example 6

Human Factors

A driver travelling at the speed of 30 mi/h was cited for crossing an

intersection on red. He claimed that he was innocent because the duration of
the amber display was improper and, consequently, a dilemma zone existed at
the location. Using the following data, determine whether the drivers claim
was correct.
amber duration

= 4.5s

perception-reaction time

= 1.5s

comfortable deceleration

= 10 ft/s2

car length

= 15 ft

intersection width

= 50 ft

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 Visual acuity

Human Factors

Sharpness with which a person can see an object

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20/09/2016

Human Factors
 Measured by recognition acuity obtained by the use of the standard Snellen chart
 A person with a good (20/20)vision can recognize a letter of
about 1/3 in in height at a distance of 20 ft (well-lit
environment)
 20/40 meaning that the person can clearly see an object at a
distance of 20 ft when a distance of 40ft is sufficient for a
person with normal vision (20/20), Or the person with 20/40
vision needs twice the size of the object that can be seen by
person with normal vision(20/20) at the same distance
 The acuity affected by

Contrast, brightness, level of illumination, relative motion
between the observer and the object.

It could be Static (no motion) or dynamic (motion)

Acuity decreases with increasing visual angle
The most clear vision occurs within a cone of vision the vicinity of 3o and fairly good up to 10o
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Human Factors

Example
Assume that a driver with normal vision can read a sign from a distance of 50 ft
for each inch of letter height and that design driver has 20/40 vision.
Determine how far away from an exit ramp a directional sign should be located
to allow a safe reduction of speed from 60 to 30 mi/h, given a perception-reaction
time of 1.5 s, a coefficient of friction of 0.3, a letter size of 8 in., and a level freeway.

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20/09/2016

 Lateral displacement

Human Factors

Drivers show a tendency to displace laterally away from the object

even though it may not be on their direct path

The narrower the pavement and the closer the object to the pavement
edge, the greater the magnitude of lateral displacement.
a
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Human Factors
 Lateral displacement - Example

Vehicles A and B are travelling toward each other in opposing lanes on a
straight segment of a two lane highway at 35 and 40 mi/hr, respectively. If
the critical rates of angular change of the two drivers are 0.0065 and 0.0055
rad/s, determine (a) which driver will be the first to displace laterally and
(b) the longitudinal distance between vehicles when the displacement will
occur. Assume that the lateral separation between the two vehicles is 6 ft.

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