Research of human factors in highway engineering may be seen to include two main areas: the effect of geometric design on driver behaviour, and the consideration of driver behaviour variability. A critical review of pertinent research and related provisions in the design guidelines of the U.S., Canada, Germany, and Great Britain, carried out in this paper, shows that, although a variety of highway design assessment methods with respect to the aforementioned research areas have been suggested in literature, the relevant findings have not yet been satisfactorily incorporated into highway design guidelines. On the basis of the aforementioned research findings and existing guidelines provisions, a framework is discussed which allows for the consideration of "non-design" road users, such as older drivers, and also incorporates checks for the overall safety of design as a feedback loop in the design process. (A)
Abstract