Assessing road users’ acceptable levels of service.

The paper presents the methodology and outcomes of 11 separate investigations undertaken from 1998 to 2004 to assess road users’ expectations of levels of service on roads in Australia. These roads ranged from unsealed and sealed local roads to freeways. The road users were surveyed for their assessments of levels of service. All investigations covered the assessment of the factors that influence road users’ perceptions of levels of service and quantitative assessments of the maximum acceptable level of rideability or roughness of the roads. The investigations have shown so far that communities often have unique perceptions and requirements. In reviewing all 11 investigations, rideability ranked as the third highest factor thought to influence road users’ perceptions of road conditions after potholes and safety. (Author/publisher) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. E213531.