New Method to Assess Ride Safety on Uneven Element Pavements

Abstract

Stone element pavements are typical of many historical urban centers in Europe. Unfortunately, their deterioration due to traffic causes severely uneven road surfaces, compromising the safety of those who ride on two-wheeled vehicles. The writers have developed a method to quantify the danger level in relation to actual road conditions by creating a mechanical model able to simulate two-wheeled vehicles on road discontinuities. Several combinations of road discontinuities and approach speeds were tested in order to determine transit safety. These model discontinuities, varying in kind and magnitude, were examined using both rectilinear trajectories and curves. Specific criteria and related thresholds were set up to identify hazardous situations. This method was used on stone element pavements with embedded tram tracks. The level of danger for each condition was thus evaluated using these criteria. Finally, we listed in a table the thresholds for the acceptable pavement discontinuities in order to formulate suggestions for maintenance management and speed limitations.