Effect of Road Narrowing on Junction Capacity Using Microsimulation

Abstract

Traffic-calming measures have been widely used in urban areas, aiming sometimes to reduce vehicle flow rates but primarily to reduce speed and, hence, the number and severity of traffic accidents. The one-way priority working road narrowing (throttle) is a widely used traffic-calming technique. However, installation of such a measure close to a junction can severely affect the operation and level of service, especially for the major road movements. There is a lack of research, guidance, and design standards to inform the effective deployment of such a measure. This paper starts by providing a summary of the terms and standards used in practice for traffic-calming measures, primarily focusing on the use of throttles. The paper aims to investigate the relationship between throttle spacing (