Temporal Speed Reduction Effects of Drone Radar in Work Zones
Author/Presenter: Benekohal, Rahim F.; Resende, Paulo T. V.; Zhao, WeixiongAbstract:
Three experiments were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of using drone (passive or unmanned) radar guns on vehicle speeds in work zones. Experiment 1 was an exploratory study to determine the immediate effects of using one drone radar gun on speed. Experiment 2 was conducted to evaluate the short-term effects of using one drone radar gun on speed. Experiment 3 measured the short-term effects of using two drone radar guns on speed. It was divided into three 1-hr time intervals to determine the lasting effects of using two radar guns on speed. The immediate effect of using one radar gun (Experiment 1) was a speed reduction of 13 to 16 km/hr (8 to 10 mph); however, such reduction should not be taken as a typical value. Experiment 2 showed that using one radar gun was not effective in reducing speed when drivers knew that it was drone radar. Experiment 3 indicated that the use of two radar guns increased the radar effectiveness, since drivers were not sure whether the signals would come from a police radar or drone radar. The effectiveness was consistent on trucks, but not on cars. The two-radar experiment reduced speeds of trucks by 5 to 10 km/ hr (3 to 6 mph) in most cases, but speeds of cars were reduced by 5 km/ hr (3 mph) only in two out of six cases. The speed reduction effects of the two-radar experiment on trucks were sustained over a time period of 3 hr.
Volume: 1409
Publisher: Transportation Research Board
Publication Date: 1993
Full Text URL: Link to URL
Publication Types: Books, Reports, Papers, and Research Articles
Topics: Drone Radar; Measures of Effectiveness; Speed Control; Work Zones