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Analyzing the Impacts of Driver Familiarity/Unfamiliarity at Roundabouts

Toussant, Erica A.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1451907184

Abstract Details

2016, Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, Civil Engineering (Engineering and Technology).
The number of roundabouts has increased substantially throughout the United States, but many people remain unfamiliar about their operations. This study was conducted to determine the effect unfamiliar drivers have on the operations of a roundabout. A questionnaire was conducted in two southeast Ohio cities aimed to define how driver characteristics, particularly driver familiarity, influenced knowledge pertaining to lane assignment and priority rules. Field data was also collected in the city of Athens, Ohio and used to further investigate the operations through a microsimulation approach implemented to model familiar and unfamiliar operations of this particular roundabout in VISSIM. The results of the study show gender and exposure to educational information do not have an effect on knowledge of roundabouts, while age, familiarity, and residence do show significant differences in driver knowledge. Drivers in younger age groups, reporting higher frequencies of use, and/or living near a roundabout tended to answer more questions correctly. In terms of field data, there were no significant differences found between the speeds and gap acceptance exhibited by unfamiliar and familiar drivers. Applying speed distributions, gap acceptance, volumes, and driver errors observed to the models, familiar drivers experienced significantly small delay times and queue lengths on all approaches of the roundabout.
Deborah McAvoy (Advisor)
156 p.
Civil Engineering
roundabout; driver; behavior; VISSIM

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Toussant, E. A. (2016). Analyzing the Impacts of Driver Familiarity/Unfamiliarity at Roundabouts [Master's thesis, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1451907184

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Toussant, Erica. Analyzing the Impacts of Driver Familiarity/Unfamiliarity at Roundabouts. 2016. Ohio University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1451907184.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Toussant, Erica. "Analyzing the Impacts of Driver Familiarity/Unfamiliarity at Roundabouts." Master's thesis, Ohio University, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1451907184

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.