The Effect of a Temporary Work Zone on Traffic Flow and Driving Speed in a Rural Two-Lanes Road

The paper presents a study aimed at identifying atypical driver behaviour along a (provincial) rural road with road works. The work area is a temporary site, 50 metres long, located at the edge of the roadway, for the construction of a cycle track. All the work is done in daytime at the side of the carriageway, which remains entirely free of obstacles. The main objective of the study is to analyze the relationship between the position of the road works and the variation of driving speed. Speed was measured at the side of the carriageway, by means of surveillance points where a video camera was positioned out of sight of the drivers. These points were identified taking into account the previous speed analysis developed by means of a driving simulator where the same track was reconstructed. The pavement was quite new and had a good texture, free of distresses or cracks. The experimental investigation was carried out without adverse weather conditions, during the daytime. The results show that the presence of temporary road works at the side of the carriageway is the origin of several specific changes in driving behaviour. Statistical analysis and comparison of the speed distributions, with and without the road works, highlight the effect of distraction and limitation due to the visual changes and the variation in road space perception. The presence of a work site near curves persuades the drivers to reduce speed, even if the legal speed limit is still ignored.