Truck Monitoring and Warning Systems for Freeway-to-Freeway Connections

摘要

The project focuses on the development and evaluation of a truck monitoring and211u001ewarning (TM&W) system for detecting high, long, fast trucks at freeway-to-freeway 211u001econnections and activating displays to warn the truck drivers of potential 211u001ehazards as their vehicles approach the curved section of an interchange ramp. The 211u001ebasic study was conducted on the elevated left-turn ramp for traffic moving from 211u001esouthbound on the I-610 loop freeway to eastbound on SH 225 (LaPorte Freeway) in 211u001eHouston, Texas. The TM&W system used three infrared light-beam sensors with a 211u001especial microcontroller-based signal processor, named TDA3 (Traffic Data 211u001eAcquisition), to determine the speed, length at 7 ft (2.1 m) above the road 211u001esurface, and arrival time for every vehicle that blocked the light beams. When 211u001eselected criteria were met, the TDA system sent a warning message to the driver. 211u001eThe results of this research indicate that activating flashing-yellow-light 211u001ewarning displays for only the trucks exceeding the preset criteria caused an 211u001eaverage additional; 2 mi/h (3.2 km/h) speed reduction beyond normal, before the 211u001etrucks entered the curved portion of the ramp. Recommendations are made for 211u001eimproving the warning message's impact on drivers and for implementing the TM&W 211u001esystem on a statewide basis.