A Driving Simulator-Based Assessment of Traffic Calming Measures at High-to-Low Speed Transition Zones

Pirdavani, Ali; Bajestani, Mahdi Sadeqi; Mantels, Maarten; Spooren, Thibaut · 2025 · Crossref

DOI: 10.3390/smartcities8050147

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Summary

This study addresses the critical challenge of managing vehicle speeds during transitions from high-speed rural zones to low-speed urban areas, a context often associated with elevated crash risks due to driver non-compliance with posted limits. Motivated by the inadequacy of traditional signage and the need for data-driven infrastructure planning in smart cities, the research evaluates the effectiveness of various gateway designs. Specifically, it investigates how physical traffic calming measures (TCMs), such as chicanes and road narrowing, and psychological TCMs, such as transverse markings and avenue planting, influence driver behavior. The study aims to identify configurations that promote safe, consistent deceleration without inducing abrupt or uncomfortable maneuvers. The researchers employed a high-fidelity fixed-base driving simulator to test seven distinct gateway configurations against a reference scenario with no interventions. A total of 54 licensed participants completed a 14 km simulated route, with data collected on vehicle speed, acceleration/deceleration, and lateral position at a high sampling frequency. The experimental design included a 100-meter transition zone allowing for deceleration from 70 km/h to 50 km/h. To mitigate learning effects and carryover influences, four unique driving scenarios were developed with varied sequences of gateway designs. Statistical analysis was conducted using Linear Mixed-effect Models to account for repeated measures and unbalanced data structures, while outliers were excluded based on interquartile range thresholds. The results indicate that physical TCMs had the most significant impact on speed reduction. Designs featuring chicanes achieved the largest decreases in vehicle speed but also induced abrupt deceleration patterns. In contrast, the combination of road narrowing and transverse markings resulted in smoother, more gradual deceleration, minimizing driver discomfort and lateral instability. Psychological measures alone, such as avenue planting, demonstrated minimal standalone effects on speed and deceleration behavior. However, when combined with physical interventions, psychological cues supported more perceptually engaging transitions. The study found that integrating these measures creates a synergistic effect, enhancing driver awareness and compliance more effectively than isolated treatments. The significance of these findings lies in their contribution to smart mobility strategies and urban planning. The study suggests that integrating gateway designs into urban entry zones can reduce reliance on enforcement by promoting self-explanatory roads that naturally guide driver behavior. By demonstrating the efficacy of simulator-based testing, the research offers actionable insights for engineers and policymakers to evaluate road design interventions early in the planning process. The findings advocate for a combined approach of physical and psychological TCMs to create safer, more consistent transitions, thereby supporting sustainable urban mobility and improved traffic safety at critical thresholds.

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Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant on 2026-06-10; verification: verified.

Topics

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• perceptual countermeasures
• speed management
• work zones
• speed choice
• rail grade crossings

Information type

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• Applied Guidance: countermeasure evaluation
• Methodological Resource: validation psychometrics