• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.75-82
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• 2007

This study was performed to investigate impacts of truck lane restrictions on multilane highways on traffic flow variables such as average speed, the frequency of lane changes, and change in traffic volume and also to verify whether or not different lane restriction scenarios were proper. Two types of hypothetical highway networks and OD demands were developed for traffic simulation models in order to conduct the experimental study. Three types of scenarios were also developed according to the number of restricted lanes for trucks. The PARAMICS microscopic traffic simulation software package was used as the primary analytical tool. Statistical analysis was conducted with simulation outputs. Results showed that truck lane restrictions may lead to positive impacts on traffic flow on multilane highways. In addition, this study demonstrated that the number of restricted lanes can be very an important factor to lead successful implementation of truck lane restrictions.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.175-184
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• 2009

The study analyzes likely impacts of left truck lane restriction strategies on urban freeways based on a traffic simulation model. This study contains two main parts. The first part is performed to develop feasible alternatives as well as provide insights into conditions under left truck lane restrictions would be effective based on the analysis of two representative hypothetical highways. Different levels of O-D demands and truck percentage is at least restrictions would work when maximum rate of flow is more than 1,300vphpl or truck percentage is at least over loft of the total traffic. The second part of our study concerns a case study on a region with perhaps the highest truck volumes in the U.S. - a northbound section of Interstate 710 corridor in Los Angeles County, Southern California. The results show that restricting the two leftmost lanes under congested traffic with heavy ruck use, provides the most positive impacts in terms of improving the flow of traffic and saving fuel. In addition, our study demonstrates that in general, the number of lanes restricted is a crucial factor in the success of this strategy.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.1105-1113
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• 2013

Understanding the characteristics of truck-involved crashes is of keen interest because such crashes are highly associated with greater potential leading to severer injury. The purpose of this study is to identify factors affecting injury severity of truck-involved crashes on freeways. In addition, a binary logistic regression technique is applied to identify causal factors affecting truck crash severity under normal and adverse weather conditions. Major findings from the analyses are discussed with truck operations strategies including speed enforcement, variable speed limit, and truck lane restriction, from the safety enhancement point of view. The results of this study would be useful for developing traffic control and operations strategies to reduce truck-involved crashes and injury severity in practice.