SOME INFLUENCES OF TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT ON ROAD TRAFFIC

Some of the opportunities for municipal engineers to use technological developments in the road traffic field are described. National patterns of travel are discussed. Some of the basic ways in which transport planners and traffic engineers can influence traffic are considered, e.g. modifying overall demand for movement, changing patterns of traffic flow and altering the balance of traffic between modes. The possibility of maintaining an integrated computer-based system of information on public transport is discussed. Computer software developments which could improve traffic flow are described -these include signpost (place name selection and optimal route guidance), urban traffic control systems such as SCOOT which can achieve a saving of 10% in delays, the GUADRO computer model for calculating inter-urban traffic delays and associated road user costs. It is concluded that the gains from technology affect savings in travel time mainly. The benefits of these savings to the economy are discussed. (TRRL)