Characterization of Platoon Dispersion Variables under Heterogeneous Traffic

Traffic flow on urban arterial streets controlled by traffic signals, create platoons at the exit, which tend to disperse as they progress along the arterial. The platoon characterizing variables such as platoon size, intra-platoon headway, inter-platoon headway, and platoon speed have been studied extensively under homogeneous traffic conditions, but similar studies have not been conducted adequately considering the diversity of traffic and lack of lane discipline exhibited under heterogeneous traffic conditions. This study enables better understanding of platoon characterizing variables under heterogeneous traffic conditions facilitating enhanced safety and better operation. Data were collected using video graphic survey technique. It was analyzed for each platoon upto 420 m at every 30 m interval. The analyses represented the trend and dispersion of platoons of vehicles and locations where initial and higher platoon diffusion occurred at downstream of traffic signals based on the variations exhibited by the platoon characterizing variables.