Effect of Road Markings on Speed Through Curves on Rural Roads: A Driving Simulator Study in Spain
Traffic accidents remain a leading cause of mortality worldwide. In Spain, a total of 9666 accidents occurred on curves in 2023, highlighting the need for effective speed management strategies. This study analyses, using a driving simulator, the effectiveness of three low-cost traffic calming measur...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-04-01
|
| Series: | Infrastructures |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2412-3811/10/4/94 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850144045591953408 |
|---|---|
| author | Santiago Martin-Castresana Diego Alvarez Fabian Andrade-Cataño Maria Castro |
| author_facet | Santiago Martin-Castresana Diego Alvarez Fabian Andrade-Cataño Maria Castro |
| author_sort | Santiago Martin-Castresana |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Traffic accidents remain a leading cause of mortality worldwide. In Spain, a total of 9666 accidents occurred on curves in 2023, highlighting the need for effective speed management strategies. This study analyses, using a driving simulator, the effectiveness of three low-cost traffic calming measures—checkerboard patterns, red peripheral transverse bars, and red coloured transverse bands—on vehicle speed through curves of varying radii and directions. Additionally, it examines the influence of driver characteristics (age, gender, and experience) and road geometric features (curve radius and direction) on driving behaviour. The simulated road included ten curves with radii ranging from 26 to 190 metres (operating speeds of 30–70 km/h) with traffic calming measures placed at the tangents before the curves. The sample consisted of 48 drivers. Men exhibited faster speeds than women, while younger drivers were faster than seniors. Increased driving experience (annual distances) correlated with higher speeds. Additionally, smaller radii resulted in lower speeds. Regarding the traffic calming measures, significant differences were found mainly where the road markings were placed (tangent) and in the initial phases of the curve. Checkerboard patterns performed better in curves with smaller radii. In contrast, red coloured transverse bands showed the best performance in larger radius curves. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7443fc85b4e64be8a44b32501794a712 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2412-3811 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Infrastructures |
| spelling | doaj-art-7443fc85b4e64be8a44b32501794a7122025-08-20T02:28:29ZengMDPI AGInfrastructures2412-38112025-04-011049410.3390/infrastructures10040094Effect of Road Markings on Speed Through Curves on Rural Roads: A Driving Simulator Study in SpainSantiago Martin-Castresana0Diego Alvarez1Fabian Andrade-Cataño2Maria Castro3Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros de Caminos, Canales y Puertos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Calle del Prof. Aranguren, 3, 28040 Madrid, SpainEscuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros de Caminos, Canales y Puertos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Calle del Prof. Aranguren, 3, 28040 Madrid, SpainEscuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros de Caminos, Canales y Puertos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Calle del Prof. Aranguren, 3, 28040 Madrid, SpainEscuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros de Caminos, Canales y Puertos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Calle del Prof. Aranguren, 3, 28040 Madrid, SpainTraffic accidents remain a leading cause of mortality worldwide. In Spain, a total of 9666 accidents occurred on curves in 2023, highlighting the need for effective speed management strategies. This study analyses, using a driving simulator, the effectiveness of three low-cost traffic calming measures—checkerboard patterns, red peripheral transverse bars, and red coloured transverse bands—on vehicle speed through curves of varying radii and directions. Additionally, it examines the influence of driver characteristics (age, gender, and experience) and road geometric features (curve radius and direction) on driving behaviour. The simulated road included ten curves with radii ranging from 26 to 190 metres (operating speeds of 30–70 km/h) with traffic calming measures placed at the tangents before the curves. The sample consisted of 48 drivers. Men exhibited faster speeds than women, while younger drivers were faster than seniors. Increased driving experience (annual distances) correlated with higher speeds. Additionally, smaller radii resulted in lower speeds. Regarding the traffic calming measures, significant differences were found mainly where the road markings were placed (tangent) and in the initial phases of the curve. Checkerboard patterns performed better in curves with smaller radii. In contrast, red coloured transverse bands showed the best performance in larger radius curves.https://www.mdpi.com/2412-3811/10/4/94driving simulatorspeed reductiontraffic calmingroad safetydriver behaviourroad curve |
| spellingShingle | Santiago Martin-Castresana Diego Alvarez Fabian Andrade-Cataño Maria Castro Effect of Road Markings on Speed Through Curves on Rural Roads: A Driving Simulator Study in Spain Infrastructures driving simulator speed reduction traffic calming road safety driver behaviour road curve |
| title | Effect of Road Markings on Speed Through Curves on Rural Roads: A Driving Simulator Study in Spain |
| title_full | Effect of Road Markings on Speed Through Curves on Rural Roads: A Driving Simulator Study in Spain |
| title_fullStr | Effect of Road Markings on Speed Through Curves on Rural Roads: A Driving Simulator Study in Spain |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of Road Markings on Speed Through Curves on Rural Roads: A Driving Simulator Study in Spain |
| title_short | Effect of Road Markings on Speed Through Curves on Rural Roads: A Driving Simulator Study in Spain |
| title_sort | effect of road markings on speed through curves on rural roads a driving simulator study in spain |
| topic | driving simulator speed reduction traffic calming road safety driver behaviour road curve |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2412-3811/10/4/94 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT santiagomartincastresana effectofroadmarkingsonspeedthroughcurvesonruralroadsadrivingsimulatorstudyinspain AT diegoalvarez effectofroadmarkingsonspeedthroughcurvesonruralroadsadrivingsimulatorstudyinspain AT fabianandradecatano effectofroadmarkingsonspeedthroughcurvesonruralroadsadrivingsimulatorstudyinspain AT mariacastro effectofroadmarkingsonspeedthroughcurvesonruralroadsadrivingsimulatorstudyinspain |