Citation

ITE J. 1987; 57(1): 21-25.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1987, Institute of Transportation Engineers)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Recognizing that proposals have been made to increase the national speed limit in selected circumstances, guidelines are presented here that focus attention on the criteria that might be used to identify appropriate highway segments so as to have the least detrimental impact on highway safety, and the most beneficial impact on drivers and enforcement agencies. The ITE Task Force which studied the situation, made the following recommendations: (1) freeway segments only, with full control of access and complying with freeway design standards; (2) level of service C or higher with a traffic density less than 30 passenger car equivalents per mile per lane in the peak hour; (3) minimum segment length of 10 miles; (4) engineering and traffic study of each potential segment; (5) monitoring study and analysis. Traffic characteristics, vehicle operations, and accident experiences must be monitored continuously to ensure that there is no unacceptable deterioration of operational or safety conditions.