The latest research, policies and practices related to street and highway geometric design have reflected several changes to the law. The most significant adjustments involve reduction of the minimum power-to-weight ratio for trucks, gradual increase of the weight limit for trucks, increase of the permissible vehicle width and increase of the speed limit for trailer trucks. These changes were preceded by the reduction of the general speed limit on freeways (from 130 to 120 km/h) and on rural highways (from 100 to 80 km/h). In urban areas too, significant changes affecting street geometric design needed to be taken into consideration. This was the background against which various design standards had to be revised or newly drawn up. The research and the policies had to take account of the effects of the changes mentioned above on geometric design practice. Findings from the research and the resulting conclusions for policies, standards and geometric design practice are presented and discussed in the country report. It contains contributions on the driving behavior on rural highways, stopping sight distances on freeways, design recommendations for compact roundabouts, special forms of road marking in traffic-calming zones, and the viability (or rideability) of traffic infrastructures.
Samenvatting