A section of a major road has been marked with two 5,5 m wide lanes and 1 m wide shoulders. The lanes and shoulders are separated by a continuous edgeline 30 cm wide. Swedish motorways normally have 3,75 m wide lanes and 2,75 m wide shoulders; these being separated by a broken line. The remarked section was tested with respect to the lateral position of vehicles, distribution of lateral position and speed. Road user attitudes and behaviour were also studied. The results show that the lateral position was changed in such a way that after remarking of the road, oncoming vehicles were separated by a larger distance, a fact which is expected to reduce the risk of head-on accidents. The lateral position is more evenly distributed on the roadway, which should reduce the risk of the formation of longitudinal ruts.Furthermore, the speed of vehicles has increased, which may result in more serious accidents. Road users are positive to this modification. The reason is above all that the wide lane is better when overtaking than the narrow lane with a wide shoulder. (A)
Abstract