Evaluating a Detection and Warning System to Deter No-Passing Zone Violations

Abstract

Evaluating the performance of a detection and warning system designed specifically to detect and warn no-passing zone violations on vertical curves of two-lane rural roads is the focus of this paper. The evaluation is mainly based on the unique simulation developed for that purpose. Many roadway, vehicle, and driver-related parameters were introduced in this simulation to reflect as close as possible what is occurring in the real world. More than 19,500 violation case simulation runs were made for the base scenario to reflect and calibrate the actual conditions of the parameters involved. The simulation runs were made for both “with” and “without” the warning system cases. The simulation outcome for the “without the system” case was very close to the actual real-world condition (1.41 versus 0.71 crash per year). The simulation runs of the “with the system” case showed also that the system could virtually eliminate all head-on collisions, should the violators obey the early warning messages displayed. Eleven sensitivity tests showed that the simulation is robust in describing the system performance. An economic feasibility analysis revealed a high benefits–cost ratio of 38.9, and modified internal rate of return of 65%.