PURPOSES : There are generally various driving behaviors in toll collection areas, including lane changing, merging and diverging, and other behaviors. Because of these behaviors, accident risk and traffic congestion may occur. To mitigate these problems, multi-lane electronic toll collection systems have been developed with a high-speed limit of 80 km/h. This study was conducted to investigate travel speed changes and effects through multi-lane electronic toll collection systems with a high-speed limit.
METHODS : Traffic simulations were conducted using VISSIM. Before conducting simulations, driving behavior around the toll collection areas was observed, and field data were collected based on drones for peak and non-peak hours. In addition, safety effect evaluations were conducted based on conflict analyses using the SSAM software.
RESULTS : Through multi-lane electronic toll collection systems with a high-speed limit, the travel speed on the toll collection area was increased, and traffic operational efficiencies were identified. However, different speed variations were produced as observation locations in toll collection areas. Speed variations were mitigated at most locations except the area within the tollbooth because of the high speed limit for multi-lane electronic tollbooth.
CONCLUSIONS : It was important to manage lane-changing activities, and this may influence traffic operational effects. Safety effects were also identified through conflict analyses.