The dutch motorway control and signalling system is designed for the most heavily trafficked kilometres of freeways. This covers about 600 km. In 1984 the system was in operation on about 100 km of freeways. Basically the system provides a main carriageway control with facilities for diverting traffic and ramp metering at all interchanges. In practice diverting of traffic only takes place at a limited number of strategic points, while ramp metering is not yet installed, because there must be negotiations with local authorities in order to link up the ramp metering with area traffic control schemes. The following aims are set for the system (1) better utilisation of existing capacity (2) increasing road safety (3) easing the job for maintenance personnel and police and (4) collecting data. For the evaluation of the system a before and after study has been carried out and the results are presented.
Abstract