Driving safety of a semi-trailer is greatly reduced when driving in a section with a narrow turning radius, so a dynamic study of driving and road conditions is required. In this study, the driving stability of the semi-trailer was investigated using the RecurDyn program in consideration of the velocity and weight of the semi-trailer in the entrance curve section of the highway, and the turning angle and radius of the curved road. In order to select the model and analysis conditions according to the road type, the sloping curved road was modeled by selecting the curvature, entry length, height difference, and entrance angle of the curved section. From the analysis results, the higher the semi-trailer's entrance velocity, the heavier the weight, the narrower the entrance angle of the curved road, and the smaller the curvature, the greater the semi-trailer's maximum running angular speed which had an effect on driving stability.

PURPOSES : The purpose of this study is to analyze the impact of the level of the light-environment and the driver's visual ability on the change in the driver's perception of a forward curved section at night. The study also aims to identify factors that should be considered to ensure safety while entering curved sections of a road at night. METHODS : Data collected from a virtual driving experiment, conducted by the Korean Institute of Construction Technology (2017), were used. Logistic regression was applied to analyze the effects of changes in the light-environment factors (road surface luminance and glare) and the driver’s visual ability on a driver's perception of the road. Additionally, analysis of the moderated effect of visual ability on light-environment factors indicated that the difference in drivers’ visual abilities impact the influence of light-environment factors on their perception. A driver's ability to perceive, as a response variable, was categorized into 'failure' and 'success' by comparing the perceived distance and minimum reaction sight distance. Covariates were also defined. Road surface luminance levels were categorized into 'unlit road surface luminance' (luminance ≤ 0.1 nt) and 'lit road surface luminance' (luminance > 0.1 nt), based on 0.1 nt, which is the typical level observed on unlit roads. The glare level was categorized as 'with glare' and 'without glare' based on whether the glare was from a high-beam caused by an oncoming vehicle or not. The driver's visual ability level was categorized into 'low visual ability' (age ≥ 50) and 'high visual ability' (age ≤ 49), considering that after the age of 50, the drive’s visual ability sharply declines. RESULTS : The level of road surface luminance, glare, and driver's visual ability were analyzed to be significant factors that impact the driver's ability to perceive curved road sections at night. A driver's perception was found to reduce when the road surface luminance is very low, owing to the lack of road lighting ('unlit road luminance'), when glare is caused by oncoming vehicles ('with glare'), and if the driver's visual ability level is low owing to an older age ('low visual ability'). The driver's ability to perceive a curved section is most affected by the road surface luminance level. The effect is reduced in the order of glare occurrence and the driver's visual ability level. The visual ability was analyzed as a factor that impacts the intensity of the effect of change of the light-environment on the change of the driver's ability to perceive the road. The ability to perceive a curved section deteriorates significantly in 'low visual ability' drivers, aged 50 and above, compared to drivers with 'high visual ability,' under the age of 49, when the light-environment conditions are adverse with regard to the driver’s perception (road surface luminance: 'lit road surface luminance'→'unlit road surface luminance,' glare: 'without glare'→'with glare'). CONCLUSIONS : Supplementation, in terms of road lighting standards that can lead to improvements in the level of light-environment, should be considered first, rather than the implementation of restrictions on the right of movement, such as restricting the passage of low visual ability or aging drivers who are disadvantageous in terms of gaining good perception of the road at night. When establishing alternatives so that safety on roads at night is improved, it is necessary to consider improving drivers' perception by expanding road lighting installation. The road lighting criteria should be modified such that the glare caused by oncoming traffic, which is an influential factor in the linear change in perception, and the level of light-environment thereof are improved.

PURPOSES: The purpose of this research is to analyze the characteristics of panels that affect the evaluating results of riding quality and to evaluate the appropriateness of roughness management criteria based on ride comfort satisfaction. METHODS: In order to analyze the influence of panel characteristics of riding quality, 33 panels, consisting of civilians and experts, were selected. Also, considering the roughness distribution of the expressway, 35 sections with MRI ranging from 1.17 m/km to 4.65 m/km were selected. Each panel boarded a passenger car and evaluated the riding quality with grades from 0 to 10, and assessed whether it was satisfied or not. After removing outlier results using a box plot technique, 964 results were analyzed. An ANOVA was conducted to evaluate the effects of panel expertise, age, driving experience, vehicle ownership, and gender on the evaluation results. In addition, by using the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve, the MRI value, which can most accurately evaluate the satisfaction with riding quality, was derived. Then, the compatibility of MRI was evaluated using AUC as a criterion to assess whether the riding quality was satisfactory. RESULTS: Only the age of the panel participants were found to have an effect on the riding quality satisfaction. It was found that satisfaction with riding quality and MRI are strongly correlated. The satisfaction rate of roughness management criteria on new (MRI 1.6 m/km) and maintenance (MRI 3.0 m/km) expressways were 95% and 53%, respectively. As a result of evaluating the roughness management criteria by using the ROC curve, it was found that the accuracy of satisfaction was the highest at MRI 3.1-3.2 m/km. In addition, the AUC of the MRI was about 0.8, indicating that the MRI was an appropriate index for evaluating the riding quality satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results, the distribution of the panels’age should be considered when panel rating is conducted. From the results of the ROC curve, MRI of 3.0 m/km, which is a criterion of roughness management on maintenance expressways, is considered as appropriate.

PURPOSES: The purpose of this study is to estimate the impact of variable message signage (VMS) on traffic safety as a function of road curve radius using statistical methods. METHODS: In order to analyze the impact of VMS installations on traffic safety, travel speed, lateral distance, and geometric data relating to road curvature in each study area was acquired and analyzed for the impact of providing VMS information on driver performance and traffic safety using statistical methods including student t-test, Mann-Whitney test, and the Anderson-Darling test for estimating traffic safety hazard zone in each lane. RESULTS: As a result of analyzing driver performance characteristics before and after providing VMS information, it was determined that by providing VMS information, mean travel speed is deceased and vehicles are driven with increased precision, following the centerline in the first and second lanes. Also the results of analyzing traffic safety impacts of VMS indicate that traffic safety performance factors in the first lane of the Gapyeong section can, on average, increase in the left and right side of the lane by 19.22% and 68.98%, respectively, and in the case of the second lane, safety impacts, on average, can increase in both sides by 100%. For the Hongcheon section, traffic safety impacts in the first lane, on average, can increase along the left and right sides of the lane by 32.31% and 47.18%, and within the second lane, traffic safety can be increased along the left and right side of the lane by 10.97% and -0.01%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results of this study, the impact on traffic safety obtained by providing VMS information for road sections with smaller curve radii is greater than can be obtained for road sections with larger curve radii.

PURPOSES : This study aims to evaluate the road safety of the super-elevation transition section of a left turn curve and suggest the minimum longitudinal grade of a super-elevation transition section to be used before and after a left curved section. METHODS: We evaluated the road condition by means of the safety-criterion-evaluation method involving side friction factors, and then solve the problem by introducing the minimum longitudinal grade criterion based on conditions described in the hydraulics literature. RESULTS : It was calculated that when a road satisfies hydroplaning conditions, the difference between side friction assumed and side friction demanded is less than - 0.04. In this case, the safety criterion for the condition is unsatisfied. Conversely, when a road is in a normal state under either wet or dry conditions, it was calculated that the difference between side friction assumed and side friction demanded is more than 0.01. Thus, the safety criterion for this condition is found to be satisfied. After adjusting the minimum longitudinal grade applied to a super-elevation transition section, the hydroplaning condition can be eliminated and the safety criterion can be met for all sections. CONCLUSIONS : It is suggested that a minimum longitudinal grade should be provided on super-elevation transition sections in order to prevent hydroplaning.

PURPOSES : Two-lane highways have one lane in each direction, and lane changing and passing maneuvers take place in the opposing lane depending on the availability of passing sight distance. 2001 Korea Highway Capacity Manual (KHCM) is classified into two classes of two-lane highways (Type I, II), and average travel speed and time-delayed rate are used as measures of effectiveness (MOEs). However, since existing two-lane highways have both uninterrupted and interrupted traffic flow-system elements, a variety of free-flow speeds exhibits in two-lane highways. In addition, it is necessary to check if the linear-relationship between volumes and time-delayed rate is appropriate. Then, this study is to reestablish the relationship between average travel speed, time-delayed rate, and flow. METHODS : TWOPAS model was selected to conduct this study, and the free-flow speeds of passenger cars and the percentage of following vehicles observed in two-lane highways were applied to the model as the input. The revised relationships were developed from the computer simulation. RESULTS : In the revised average travel speed vs. flow relationship, the free-flow speed of 90km/h and 70km/h were added. It shows that the relationship between time delayed-rate and flow appeared to be appropriate with the log-function form and that there was no difference in time-delayed rate between the free flow speeds. In addition to revise the relationships, the speed prediction model and the time-delayed rate prediction model were also developed. CONCLUSIONS : The revised relationships between average travel speed, time-delayed rate, and flow would be useful in estimating the Level of Service(LOS) of a two-lane highway.

본 연구에서는 도시부도로의 곡선구간에서 주행차량의 횡방향 이격량을 분석하여 차량 주행에 필요한 최소 소요차로폭을 산정하였으며 본 연구결과와 선행연구에서 제시된 직선구간에서의 최소 소요차로폭을 비교 분석하였다. 이를 바탕으로 도로의 선형과 차종에 따라 곡선구간에서의 최소 소요차로폭을 제시하였다. 조사대상 곡선구간 도로의 차로폭은 2.79m~3.40m이다. 주행차량의 횡방향 이격량의 분포 및 조사대상 차량의 85%를 기준으로 누적분포를 분석하였다. 분석결과 곡선구간에서의 최소 소요차로폭이 소형차량의 경우 2.31m~2.58m, 대형차량의 경우 2.80m~3.27m로 산정되었다. 본 연구결과는 녹색교통 도입을 위한 공간, 도로공사 중, 소형차 전용도로의 건설 등에 활용될 수 있을 것이다. 또한 설계자의 목적에 따라 유연한 차로폭 설계기준의 적용에 필요한 기초적인 연구로 활용될 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.

현행 도로설계의 기준이 되는 "도로의 구조 시설 기준에 관한 규칙 해설 및 지침"에서는 설계속도에 따라 도로 선형별 최소 설계기준을 정하고 있으며, 이 기준을 만족시키면 교통안전성 이 확보되는 것으로 규정하고 있다. 이러한 설계기준에 적용되고 있는 개별 설계요소들은 원칙적으로 차량 및 운전자 특성을 감안하여 설치기준이 정립되었으나, 설계요소간의 연관성 또는 일관성에 대한 깊이 있는 연구를 통해 제반 기준이 정립된 것은 아니다. 결과적으로, 현재의 도로설계기준이 개별 설계 요소들의 조합에 의해 결정되는 도로의 안전성, 일관성 문제를 모두 고려하지는 못하였다. 따라서, 본 연구에서는 기존의 설계기준에 내재된 문제점을 인지하고 해결을 위해 우선적으로 3차원 가속도를 고려한 선형 설계방안에 대한 연구를 수행하였으며, 이를 통해 더욱 안전하고 조화로운 도로건설을 유도하고자 한다.

현행의 도로설계기준에서는 특정 설계속도에 따라 최소기준을 정하여 이를 토대로 설계된 도로가 해당 기준을 만족하면 주행상 안전성을 확보하는 것으로 간주하고, 이에 따라 도로설계 및 교통운영을 시행하고 있다. 그러나 실제 도로를 주행하는 차량의 속도를 조사해보면, 다수의 차량이 설계자의 의도와 다른 속도로 주행하는 것을 볼 수 있고, 이는 도로 이용자의 안전성 문제와 직결된다고 할 수 있다. 특히, 직선부에서 곡선부, 혹은 곡선부에서 직선부로 주행하는 곡선부 변이구간은 이러한 속도의 변동이 가장 심한 구간 중의 하나로 이에 대한 주행 안전성 검토가 절실하다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 첫째, 곡선부 도로 변이구간에서의 주행속도와 주행반경을 고려한 지점별 횡방향 가속도와 횡방향 가속도 변화율을 산정하고, 둘째, 이를 고려한 곡선부 도로 변이구간의 설계안전성을 평가하여 편경사, 곡선반경 등의 선형 설계요소를 검토하였다. 검토결과 현재 고려되어지고 있는 구심가속도는 실제 운전자가 부담해야 하는 구심가속도에 훨씬 못 미치고 있는 실정이며, 설계속도에 따라 구심가속도가 25.56~77.78% 증가되어 주행안정성에 문제가 발생함을 확인할 수 있었다. 본 연구는 직선-단곡선으로 이어지는 곡선부 변이구간을 대상으로 하였다.

차량의 주행속도는 설계일관성을 평가하는 주요한 척도로 활용되며 그 중 곡선반경은 여러 연구에서 공통적으로 제시한 주된 요인으로 나타났다. 이에 본 연구에서는 복합선형에서 설계속도별 적정 평면곡선반경 범위기준을 정립하고 운전자의 인지 행태를 나타낼 수 있는 인지반경을 정립하여 입체선형에서 적합한 평면곡선반경을 제시하고자 한다. 첫째, 본 연구에서는 저속차량의 방해요소를 최소화하기 위하여 입체선형을 고려한 도로의 임의지점에서 횡방향 미끄럼 마찰계수와 주행방향 미끄럼 마찰계수를 동시에 고려하여 설계속도와 종단경사별 평면곡선반경을 제시하였다. 둘째, 본 연구에서는 곡선부 인지반경을 통하여 평면 곡선부와 편평한 종단경사가 조합된 경우, 평면 곡선부와 종단곡선부가 조합된 경우를 비교한 후, 곡선부 인지반경을 산정하여 설계속도별 적정 평면곡선반경과 인지반경 비율을 제시하였다.