Citation

Lennie S, Bunker J. Road Transp. Res. 2005; 14(3): 62-76.

Affiliation

School of Urban Development Queensland, University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, Australian Road Research Board)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Multi-combination vehicles (MCV) are road freight vehicles with a prime mover towing two or more trailers. These vehicles are common in regional Australia; however there is a growing need from the freight industry to allow them to use a larger network of urban roads, where the surrounding passenger car drivers are not typically exposed to their presence. To evaluate the full impacts of MCVs, all issues must be considered from productivity and economic benefit, to infrastructure damage, safety implications, congestion impacts, environmental/amenity effects and psychological effects of other road users. The research aims to compare the behavioural characteristics of vehicles surrounding MCVs and other general access vehicles. Video footage was collected on a level and straight stretch of road, away from any off/on ramps, on a two-lane, two-way urban motorway that provides access to the Port of Brisbane, Australia. The study showed that passenger car behaviour changes around heavy vehicles (semi-trailers and B-doubles) when compared to passenger cars;however, there is no significant difference in passenger car behaviour around semi-trailers than B-doubles. Just less than 95% of passenger car drivers felt comfortable enough to stay within the marked lanes when travelling adjacent to semi-trailers and B-doubles. As level of service worsened and hence headways become smaller, drivers appeared to compensate by increasing their lateral separation/position. As traffic conditions become heavier, the lateral position of all vehicles became more precise as noticed by the smaller standard deviations in lateral position. Lane width guidelines are set to include allowances for vehicle width, tracking ability and lateral drift. The results of this research inform road agencies of the behavioural impacts when authorising MCV access into urban traffic environments.

Language: en