Effectiveness and Impact Analysis of Speed Limits Setting on Multilane Highways Using Microscopic Traffic Simulation Models

Abstract

Currently, Thailand has set vary speed limits for vehicles on highways, with the maximum speed of 120 km/h. However, there is lack of the studies of setting speed limits impact for vehicles in each traffic lane

This study therefore focuses on studying and analyzing traffic impacts, driving behavior of vehicles on highways, and evaluating the economic value of setting speed limits for different traffic lanes by applying a micro-level traffic simulation model using the PTV Vissim program.

The study results found that speeding behavior tends to increase, with an average speed increasing from 98.0 to 101.2 km/h. However, the speed of each vehicle is closer and more clustered. The analysis of vehicles speed limit found that the proportion of vehicles that exceed the legal speed limit decreased by 33.7 percent. It was also found that setting the speed limit to 120 km/h had a net present value (NPV) of the project of approximately 50.22 million baht and a benefit-cost ratio (B/C) of 1.36, which can be concluded that setting the speed limit to 120 km/h in the study area is worthwhile investing in terms of traffic efficiency, driver behavior, and economics.