This paper was presented at the `Cost-Effective Designs for Trucks' session. For a certain number of years, there is a rising concern about the design, efficiency and safety of climbing and passing lanes. There are several different ways to design, mark and sign these lanes, and each of them has its advantages and disadvantages. A research study was undertaken in order to evaluate these different designs, and to propose a design which could be used on highways in the province of Quebec. The study had two parts. First, a literature review was made to describe the designs used in different countries; secondly, a study of several climbing lanes in the province of Quebec was undertaken to observe driver behavior on these lanes, as well as to better understand operational problems related to these lanes. Based on this information, a design which corresponded better to the observed driver behavior was proposed. (A)
Samenvatting