Virginia Using Variable Speed Limits To Reduce Congestion

“Hoping to lower driving delays, final month the Virginia Division of Transportation launched variable pace limits between mile markers 115 and 130 south of Fredericksburg,” reviews Wyatt Gordon within the Virginia Mercury. “At present, 20 states deploy variable pace limits on not less than one stretch of their highway networks,” the place analysis reveals a median of 5 % discount in journey occasions and eight % fewer crashes. “Spaced six-tenths of a mile from each other and at every of the three freeway on-ramps alongside the hall, the 48 indicators every have congestion detectors designed to foretell potential visitors issues and drop the pace restrict by as much as 10 mph per minute.”

The issue variable pace limits search to unravel is named pace move inversion — the phenomenon whereby even minor interruptions in automobiles’ motion trigger in depth congestion as a result of density of visitors.

In accordance with Eric Dumbaugh, affiliate director of the Collaborative Sciences Heart for Street Security at Florida Atlantic College, “This sort of expertise solely works you probably have whole compliance and a majority, if not all, highway customers see the signal and cling to that pace.” The company is utilizing billboards, indicators, and alerts on Waze to alert drivers to the variable pace limits. “The primary indications of whether or not VDOT’s $10 million funding within the new hall is paying off ought to are available in September, when the company completes its first spherical of knowledge on crash charges and kinds, the frequency of pace discount, compliance and person-hours of delay.”