The range of methods in the study of road user behaviour varies from mere observation by individual observers in real traffic situations to highly controlled laboratory experiments, sometimes using advanced simulation techniques. The choice of methods depends on the questions to which the research is addressed. An observation technique, based on video, has been developed, which makes objective quantification possible. The method and equipment were tried out on the behaviour of cyclists, using new specially designed cycle tracks through two cities in the Netherlands, and motorists crossing these cycle tracks. As part of an overall evaluation of the cycle tracks, course, course changes, speed, speed changes and interactions between road users were recorded and analysed, in order to determine whether the behaviour observed was that expected by the design engineers. The method, in particular, offers good possibilities in developing a conflict analysis technique, in which time-to-collision (ttc) is the final criterion. For the covering abstract of the conference see IRRD abstract no 264967.
Abstract