An application of direct method and ball-bank indicator method to determine advisory speeds for horizontal curves in Vietnam

Abstract

Advisory speed signs on horizontal curves have been widely used in many countries over the world to improve traffic safety; however these road signs have not been applied in Vietnam. This paper aims to use the direct method and ball-bank indicator one to determine advisory speeds for 10 horizontal curves all with speed limit of 60 km/h on National Highway No. 4A in Lang Son province. The results showed that, advisory speeds were determined by the ball-bank indicator method ranging from 40 to 45 km/h for curves with radius of 70 m or less and from 50 to 55 km/h for curves with radius varying from 75 m to 120 m. As compared to the ball bank indicator method, advisory speeds determined by the direct method were 0 – 5 km/h higher if using 85th percentile speeds of cars, but 5 – 10 km/h lower if using average speeds of trucks.

Keywords:

advisory speed limit; operating speed; horizontal curve; ball-bank indicator; traffic safety.