Identifying Impacts of School-Escorted Trips on Traffic Congestion and the Countermeasures in Bangkok: An Agent-Based Simulation Approach

Abstract

The often-discussed issue of parental escorting of children to school and its potential disruption of traffic flow has been extensively examined in the literature. Still, the specific effects of traffic congestion remain understudied. To fill this gap, this study addresses the impacts of school trips on traffic congestion. An agent-based model is applied to simulate various scenarios and assess their impact. Our findings indicate that the traffic speed without school trips is higher speed during peak hours by around 8% and average travel time in the city is reduced significantly. We examine countermeasures: Firstly, flexible working hours can lead to a morning traffic speed improvement of approximately 1.9%. Secondly, staggered school schedules can result in a 6.9% increase in traffic speed at 7 a.m. Optimizing school loading spaces can also enhance road capacity, mitigating road lane blockages during drop-off and pick-up periods. This research sheds light on the impact of parent-escorting travel existence and offers potential solutions to alleviate traffic congestion.

Analyzing the Traffic Operational Performance of School Pick-Up and Drop-Off Dynamics in Saudi Arabia

“…To model traffic performance, some researchers have focused on the behavioral aspect, emphasizing the significant burden placed on families as a result of the inadequacy of public transportation services. This burden means that daily commutes must be arranged for both parents and kids, thus exacerbating the growing reliance on private transportation [1,3]. Their findings concluded that suitable schools are often not located near these families' residences, rendering them inaccessible on foot or by bicycle due to the considerable distances that must be travelled.…”

“…Consequently, the streets in Saudi cities frequently grapple with severe congestion during peak hours, which leads to significant delays, undoubtedly negative frustration, and substantial environmental pollution. In contemporary urban societies, school commutes have emerged as a significant contributor to the decline in traffic operational performance and safety indicators on road networks [1].…”