What is traffic bunching meaning?
Traffic bunching and variable speed limits They discovered that under certain conditions, when cars are bunched in a specific density and travelling at a specific speed, a single driver over-reacting can set off a braking shockwave that will build momentum and travel back along a motorway for miles.
What are smart motorways UK?
A smart motorway is a section of a motorway that uses traffic management methods to increase capacity and reduce congestion in particularly busy areas. These methods include using the hard shoulder as a running lane and using variable speed limits to control the flow of traffic.
What would you expect to find at a contraflow system on a motorway?
Explanation: When approaching a contraflow system, reduce speed in good time and obey all speed limits. You may be travelling in a narrower lane than normal, with no permanent barrier between you and the oncoming traffic.
What’s the reason for traffic calming measures?
Explanation: Traffic-calming measures make the roads safer for vulnerable road users, such as cyclists, pedestrians and children. These can be designed as chicanes, road humps or other obstacles that encourage drivers and riders to slow down.
How do smart motorways prevent traffic?
Principles of the Smart Motorway System The basic principle is that if all traffic travels at the same, moderate speed and keeps in the same lane thereby avoiding continual lane changing, then the traffic will flow much more smoothly for drivers and cause fewer hold ups.
What helps reduce traffic bunching on a motorway?
Explanation: Congestion can be reduced by keeping traffic at a constant speed. At busy times, maximum speed limits are displayed on overhead gantries. These can be varied quickly, depending on the amount of traffic.
What to do if you break down on motorway with no hard shoulder?
If your vehicle begins to experience difficulties on a smart motorway with no hard shoulder, exit as soon as possible. If you can’t do this, try to get to an emergency refuge area (ERA). These are marked with blue signs and an orange SOS phone symbol.
What is contraflow bus and cycle lane?
In transport engineering nomenclature, a counterflow lane or contraflow lane is a lane in which traffic flows in the opposite direction of the surrounding lanes. Contraflow lanes are often used for bicycles or bus rapid transit on what are otherwise one-way streets.
What is the most effective traffic calming measures?
8.1 The most effective traffic calming measures for reducing vehicle speeds involve vertical shifts in the carriageway such as road humps, plateau and cushions. These measures are very dependent upon spacing for their effectiveness. At a spacing of 40-60m, 85 percentile speeds of less than 30kph may be achieved.
What is a traffic calming device?
Physical traffic calming devices can help slow down traffic without forcing drivers to an arbitrary complete stop. For example, speed humps, speed cushions, speed tables, and radar signs have all been shown to be effective at reducing vehicle speeds, but drivers aren’t required to wait or make a complete stop.