On January 1, 2012 the Federal Government launched a nationwide field trial with long heavy goods vehicles (HGV). This trial has different focuses based on a special traffic ordinance. This regulation requires a scientific monitoring for the field trial by the Federal Road Research Institute (BASt). Reasons for the field trial were to find the effects of long HGV on traffic safety, traffic flow, traffic quality and on the geometric design of traffic facilities which are caused by long heavy goods vehicles. The present study is intended to develop and evaluate technical solutions for parking of long trucks on rest areas. The study is limited to rest areas along federal highways. In the study it was differentiated between long HGV with 17,80 m (type 1) and long HGV with 25,25 m. The differentiated rating was based on the knowledge that type 1 fits in standard parking stalls. The larger HGV with 25,25 m will not fit in the 21,96 m parking stalls. Representing the longer trucks type 2 was examined. Its drag curve is relatively wide and ensures the navigability of other long HGV on a rest area. In case of a bad navigability on rest areas with type 2 a differentiated analysis was carried out with the other long HGV. For the investigation of driving, tests were carried out, however not all information could be covered. For this reason, drag curves were also calculated with a simulation software. At the rest areas the navigability on driving lanes, junctions of driving lane, parking lanes of heavy duty trucks, parking in parking lanes of normal trucks, rebuilding of traffic islands and temporary parking on angle parking of cars were investigated. The results of the studies show that it is currently possible to provide parking spaces for long trucks. In parking lanes long trucks can park without structural adjustment if sufficient gaps are present. The temporary sections release of heavy duty trucks is a good solution. The other approaches are connected, depending on the existing conditions in the rest areas with more or less expense. From a planning perspective, parking for long HGV can also be implemented on rest areas. From a legal perspective, a unique traffic regulation for the new vehicle class long trucks (between long HGV and heavy duty trucks) should be established. This sign is today available. The study has shown that there are different approaches to improve the parking situation of long HGV on rest areas. The parking with long HGV cited as a problem is however classified as mana¬geable. It is important that the percentage of long HGV remain low and a small demand of parking lots is needed. The further new needs for long HGV can only be created under imple¬mentation of such activities (single or stepped concept). (Author/publisher)
Abstract