Theme I: Behaviour of the driver. Driver behaviour as a basis for highway design.

The development of modern highway design concepts based on driver behaviour from 1930 onwards to the 1980's are outlined. The current design standards laid down in the Federal Republic of Germany are illustrated by 2 examples of driver behaviour: normal speed behaviour on an open stretch of road and stopping behaviour when an obstacle appears suddenly. In current highway design practice in the FRG, the limiting values are determined on the basis of the design speed (constant) for the whole length of the road.