Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) researchers are studying devices to provide advance warning to motorists of unexpected delays on freeways. With queues stretching to 800 feet in just 10 seconds, drivers can be taken by surprise, which can lead to accidents and irritation over sudden stop-and-go conditions. They are looking at recurrent congestion at freeway exist ramps and connectors as well as work zones. They've identified about 50 locations in the Dallas-Ft. Worth Metroplex where the morning drive experiences a sudden dip in speed. Previous research has found that one second more warning, rear-end crashes drill about 90% and go down about 60% with half a second more time to react. The researchers are evaluating two warning devices and expect to have results in fall 2004.
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