The Speed – Flow Relationship on Urban Roads in A Romanian Town

Abstract

The paper is presenting a study regarding the Speed – Flow relationship on a major artery in the urban area. The study corridor is a two-lane road from the town of Seini, Romania, where the posted speed is 50 km/h. The route was divided in five segments according to the urban space characteristics and the traffic zones. The speed data base includes the speeds collected by radar – using the TrueCAM equipment, as well as by analysing second-by-second in-vehicle global positioning system (GPS) – using the Racelogic equipment. The traffic characteristics, including the volumes, traffic composition, and peak intervals were provided from the traffic census. The statistical analysis of the significant variables (operating speed and running speed) against the model speed have highlighted the impact of the traffic characteristics in the shaping of the urban system. Therefore, the speed – flow relationship analysis is a basic component in the integrated planning process, connecting the important parameters of the urban model.