Siti Zaharah Ishak

The utilization rates of pedestrian bridges in Malaysia

Pedestrian bridge is part of grade-separated crossing that offer free flowing movement of vehicles and pedestrians. This facility is one of the safety approaches to overcome accident by minimizing conflicts and separate traffic flow between pedestrians and vehicles. Even though the pedestrian bridge may seem to offer greater protection; excessive added travel distance will discourage pedestrians who want to take a direct route. The stated inconvenience creates a situation whereby pedestrians are at risk when they attempt to cross the road using neither sidewalks nor crosswalks. Pedestrians often avoid using these facilities due to substantial differences in elevation and implying many steps to climb. This study applied linear regression analysis to analyse the factors of low utilization rates of pedestrian bridges in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Data on the pedestrian behaviour were obtained using video recordings at 16 study locations representing school, amenities, residential and business areas. The information related to the pedestrian perceptions was obtained through the questionnaire survey. Findings indicate that the utilization rates at school and residential are high as compared to the business and amenity areas. Several factors such as fence installation, directional flow, existing of median, vehicle volume and the distance of this facility that have found significant affecting the utilization of the crossing bridges. The distance of this facility from interested place or to save time was the most influential factors for pedestrian to decide on utilizing the crossing bridge. Signalized crossing is chosen as the most favourable type of crossing facility by a majority of the respondents.

Green Highway for Malaysia: A Literature Review

This paper reviewed on the green highway definition and green highway terminology to improve knowledge and awareness of green highway for highway construction projects. Moreover, this paper discussed briefly on the rating system for green highway by highlighting various eight rating systems for green highway. This study adopted the secondary data from previous research and findings on green highway construction from all over the world. With regard to published articles on green highways, the outcome of the paper will examine several major issues in green highway which are the definition of green highway, terminology used for green highway aspects, green highway initiatives and green highway rating systems from all over the world.

Rutting Load Equivalency Factors of Heavy Vehicles Operating in the Sothern Part of Malaysian Peninsula

In this study, load equivalency factors based on rutting criteria of heavy vehicles operating at the southern portion of Malaysian peninsula were developed. The study was based on the traffic volume and weight collected by three weight-in-motion stations for more than 6 million heavy vehicles. It was also based on the analysis of the effect of their weight on more than three hundred and fifty kilometers of flexible pavements. Based on the analysis made in this study, the average rutting load equivalency factors for each heavy vehicles type were developed. The developed rutting load equivalency factors could be used in flexible pavement design and rehabilitation purposes in the southern portion of Malaysian peninsula.

Assessing Motorcycle Red Light Runner Crossing Event Sequence at Signalised Intersection

Motorcycle collision is one of the major contributors of injury and fatality rates in Malaysia. Between these rates, the motorcycle red light runner (RLR) at the signalised intersections becomes the highest contributor. RLR issues are already investigated by the previous studies, but normally focusing on determining the factors and proposing the countermeasures. However, the view of event sequences when motorcycle crossing red light phase is not studied in detail. Thus, this study proposed to give a view of the event sequences of motorcycle RLR crossing scenario. It has acquired a series of site observations as qualitative data to extract the event sequence of RLR crossing at signalised intersections using a video recorder. This study was conducted in Shah Alam area, state of Selangor during 3:00 pm until 6:00 pm. Through the event sequences, the movement of motorcycle RLR starting from dilemma zone, then crossing the stop line and entering conflict zone was studied. At conflict zone, the conflict might happen when a motorcycle and a vehicle approaches the point of the conflict zone at the same time. Therefore, the assessment of RLR crossing event sequences is needed for understanding the event of RLR and as a guideline for future study in developing the model.

Engineering Factors of Motorcyclist Red Light Runner in Malaysia

Motorcycle became the popular transport vehicle in many developing countries due to its simplicity and is inexpensive compared to other types of vehicles. In spite of this fact, an involvement of this vehicle in road crashes could easily cause fatal to the rider and pillion. In mitigating the road crashes, the factor contribution is needed to recognise and understand. Thus, the objective of this study was to identify the engineering design factors that influenced the RLR among motorcyclists in Shah Alam, Selangor areas. The engineering design factors that have been considered in this study were change interval (amber time, green time and all red) of traffic signal. Then, the number of approach legs also was considered to examine the influenced these factors to motorcyclist RLR. To examine the influenced factors, direct observations were conducted using a video recorder in Shah Alam, state of Selangor. The direct observations were obtained 1 h observations within continuous 3 h. Results from this study showed that the most of motorcycle red light runner occurred at the signalised intersections within shorter amber time, longer cycle and more signal phase and approach legs.

Conflict pattern of motorcyclist red light runners (RLR) at signalised intersection

Red light runner (RLR) among motorcyclists contributed to the higher road crash and fatalities. RLR is define as a disobedience the traffic signal regulations; cross stop line and enter the conflict zone during or onset red light phase. During this time, it is encouraged the conflict or interaction with other vehicles from the opposite / adjacent approach. By using a video recorder during direct observation, the conflict pattern of RLR can be clearly determined. There are several types of conflict pattern occurred at signalised intersection and the most frequency occurs is right-thru conflict. Right-through conflict determine as when the RLR motorcyclist passing the intersection in straight while other vehicles are turning to right from a different approach of the intersection.

Fatigue Damage Ratios for Heavy Vehicles Operating in the Southern Part of Malaysian Peninsula

In this study, fatigue damage ratios caused by different types of heavy vehicles operating in the southern part of Malaysian Peninsula were developed. More than 6 million heavy vehicles’ traffic volumes and weights were collected from 3 Weight-In-Motion stations located at Tangkak, Yong Peng, and Sedenak. Through the analysis, an average fatigue damage ratios for each heavy vehicles types were developed to be used in flexible pavement design and rehabilitation purposes.

Challenges of Green Highway Concept towards Implementation of Green Highway

Green highway is different from conventional highway due to the differences of its concept, fundamental, characteristics and technologies. Stakeholders in highway construction have to overcome various challenges towards the successful implementation of green highway project. Aim of this paper is to investigate the challenges of green highway concept for highway project. This study is based on a set of unstructured interview conducted among three main stakeholders namely highway concessions, government and private agencies. The finding of this study suggested that among main challenges categories for the implementation of green highway concept are legal and regulatory; technical and physical; financial and cultural barriers which are based on the stakeholder’s perspective.