impact of precipitation on speed–flow relationships along a UK motorway corridor

Although the fundamental traffic diagram provides the characteristics of a typical road traffic speed–flow relationship, little consideration has been given to the impact of adverse weather conditions on the relationship and the subsequent impact on local speed–flow. For the first time, this study u...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Theoretical and applied climatology 2014-07, Vol.117 (1-2), p.303-316
Main Authors: Hooper, Elizabeth, Chapman, Lee, Quinn, Andrew
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Applied sciences
Aquatic Pollution
Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution
Atmospheric Sciences
Climate change
Climate science
Climatology
Earth and Environmental Science
Earth Sciences
Earth, ocean, space
economic costs
Exact sciences and technology
External geophysics
Freeways
Global temperature changes
Ground, air and sea transportation, marine construction
Highway transportation
Maximum flow
Meteorological applications
Meteorology
Original Paper
Precipitation
Precipitation (Meteorology)
radar
Road transportation and traffic
traffic
Waste Water Technology
Water Management
Water Pollution Control
Weather
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Summary:Although the fundamental traffic diagram provides the characteristics of a typical road traffic speed–flow relationship, little consideration has been given to the impact of adverse weather conditions on the relationship and the subsequent impact on local speed–flow. For the first time, this study uses precipitation radar along with a state-of-the art traffic information system to ascertain the relationship between speed–flow and precipitation on a UK transport corridor at the local (junction to junction) scale. It is evident that precipitation causes a significant reduction in speed and maximum flow on many links of the corridor as well as a downward reduction in the overall speed-flow relationship. With increased instances of heavy precipitation predicted in the UK as a result of climate change, these findings highlight the subsequent impact on journey travel times and associated economic costs.
ISSN:0177-798X
1434-4483
DOI:10.1007/s00704-013-0999-5