Fuel and time implications of merging traffic at freeway entrances

Lyons, T.J., Rainford, H., Kenworthy, J.R. and Newman, P.W.G. (1988) Fuel and time implications of merging traffic at freeway entrances. Applied Mathematical Modelling, 12 (3). pp. 226-237.

Abstract

A simple heuristic traffic model is used to simulate the fuel and time penalties associated with merging traffic on the light-flow freeway system of Perth, Western Australia. Merging traffic forces a merge with the insidelane freeway traffic through a series of individual vehicle interactions. The model is validated both statistically and at an individual vehicle level by comparison of model results with speed-time traces recorded in a research vehicle undergoing merging in Perth freeway traffic. Statistics of model parameters are calculated to estimate the overall penalties associated with merging on both a lane and system basis. These illustrate the dependence of the merging penalty on traffic volumes in both the merging lane and the freeway. The simulation results are compared with a simple Main Roads Department model based on observed delays at traffic signals, and illustrate similar functional form but differing magnitudes.

Publication Type:	Journal Article
Murdoch Affiliation:	School of Environmental and Life Sciences
Publisher:	Elsevier
Copyright:	© 1988 Elsevier
URI:	http://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/id/eprint/2354

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