Evaluation of Speeding Behavior on Elevated Road under COVID-19 Lockdown

Abstract

Don Muang Tollway is 6 lanes elevated road. There are 3 lanes in each carriage way. The length is 21 km approximately. It is considered as expressway. Tollway is high geometry design freeway. There is no traffic light. It is access controlled and vehicle type controlled freeway. Traffic informative devices and traffic safety devices is provided. Maintenance has been carried out continually to maintain road service level in order to provide smooth and safe driving. Therefore, operating speed is higher than usual till speed limit should be reconsidered. So, speeding behavior on Tollway has been studied. Time of day, day of the week is basic parameter. In addition to this, there was country lockdown due to COVID-19 situation. Effect of lockdown is contemplated in this study. Speed limit is normally set by 85th Percentile speeding of each class. Speed of each vehicle were measured all day long by 14 microwave radars which installed along the route. The measurement has been recorded over 5 phrases of COVID19 situation. They are normal, starting, spreading, lockdown and easing phrase. The records have been calculated for operating speed which is 85th Percentile speeding. Vehicles have been classified into 2 types, passenger cars and trucks. The results show that operating speed of passenger car is 119 km/hr and 97 km/hr for truck. The speed is not much difference between daytime and nighttime, weekday and weekend nor COVID situation. So, speed limit can be set constantly without time dependent.