Perceptual lane width, wide perceptual road centre markings and driving speeds

Abstract

The possibility that driving speeds could be reduced through the use of lane delineation was explored. Using a high-fidelity driving simulator, 28 experienced drivers were measured on seven two-lane rural roads with lane widths of 3.6, 3.0, or 2.5 m, and with either a standard centreline (control), a wide painted hatched road centre marking, or a wide white gravel road centre marking. Driving speeds were reduced on the narrowest lane width road, and further reduced on straight road sections that contained the centre marking with painted hatching. It was concluded that the narrow lane width increased steering workload and reduced speeds through a speed-steering workload trade-off, whilst the hatched road centre marking enhanced peripheral visual speed perception, leading to higher speed estimations and slower speeds. Therefore, narrowing the lane width below 3.0 m by using a painted hatched road centre marking should be an effective way to reduce driving speeds.

Influence of road markings, lane widths and driver behaviour on proximity and speed of vehicles overtaking cyclists

“…Wider road lanes without bends have been found to increase vehicular speeds and probability of overtaking (Guthrie et al, 2001;Pasanen et al, 2008;Godley et al, 2004), as well as to increase the passing distance between the overtaking vehicle and the cycle user (Love et al, 2012).…”

The visual control of bicycle steering: The effects of speed and path width

“…According to this concept, higher speeds and more narrow lanes both require a higher mental effort to keep the vehicle in lane. Therefore, speed will be adjusted according to the width of the cycling lane to keep the mental workload at a reasonable level for keeping the vehicle in position (Godley et al, 2004). Adjustment of speed to the task difficulty is also called task difficulty homeostasis and is an essential part of the task-capability interface (TCI) model.…”

Speed maintenance under cognitive load – Implications for theories of driver behaviour

“…This is hardly revolutionary. Behavioural adaptation can also act in a positive fashion to increase safety, for example, people drive slower on narrower roads (Godley, Triggs, & Fildes, 2004;Lewis-Evans & Charlton, 2006). Given the acceptance of behavioural adaptation, most modern theories of driver behaviour have concentrated not on trying to show if this phenomenon occurs, but why it does.…”