In a `sustainably safe' traffic and transport system, regional roads are designed in such a way that vehicles travelling in opposite directions are separated from each other. On the Oostburg ring road, this design aspect was initially realised by building the road in the form of a 2x1 carriageway divided by two solid lines. Following reports that in practice, dangerous (overtaking) manoeuvres had been noted on the ring road, the SWOV Institute for Road Safety Research was commissioned to conduct an investigation into this matter. This preliminary study consisted of observations into the nature and scope of the overtaking manoeuvres. In addition, speed measurements were performed. The chosen solution for the Oostburg ring road did not offer a `sustainably safe' traffic situation since overtaking does occur, albeit by fewer than one percent of passing vehicles. The average speed lies far above the admissible limit of 80 km/h, namely 86 km/h. (A)
Abstract