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Center for Advancing Research in Transportation Emissions, Energy, and Health (CARTEEH)

A USDOT University Transportation Center

Reduced Traffic

Reduced traffic is a measurable indicator that measures the level of traffic congestion on roads, the average speed of vehicles, the number of accidents, and the number of vehicles on the road. Several tools are used, such as sensors to track the speed of vehicles over time, as well as measuring the number of times a vehicle stops and starts.1,2

This indicator helps determine the effectiveness of the following objectives

  • Less Contamination
  • Less Emissions
  • Less Traffic Noise
  • Connectivity and Inclusion
  • Healthy Destinations
  • Less Traffic Violence
  • Active Transportation
  • Green Space

Data Collection

Several organizations measure road traffic levels. These include the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Each organization has its method for measuring traffic levels, but all three use data from various sources, including state and local agencies, private companies, and individual motorists. FHWA uses the National Performance Management Research Data Set (NPMRDS) to track traffic data. NHTSA uses the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) to collect information on traffic fatalities. IIHS uses the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) database to track insurance claims data.3

Examples

A Review Paper on Study of Traffic Volume and Its Safety Measures on National Highways

Bhat & Gupta (2018) suggested that the three main parameters of traffic flow are volume, speed, and density. The study analyzed traffic characteristics and examined traffic flow through the roads from Majri to Ramgarh, India. The study revealed a better understanding of the traffic flow in the junction and examined a reduction in traffic flow. With the help of data collection, the researchers attempted to understand traffic patterns during periods. The results of the study helped in controlling traffic and suggested measures to improve traffic safety in that area. Therefore, similar study designs could be used in the United States to analyze traffic patterns and suggest flow improvements.

https://www.academia.edu/download/57234129/IRJET-V5I7242.pdf

1. Definition of speed [Internet]. Civilengineeringterms.com. Civil Engineering Terms; 2013 [cited 2022 Aug 8]. Available from: https://www.civilengineeringterms.com/transportation-engineering/speed-traffic-volume-rate-of-flow/
2. Vehicle Sensing [Internet]. Windmill Software. [cited 2022 Aug 8]. Available from: https://www.windmill.co.uk/vehicle-sensing.html
3. Major road safety organizations, U.s.a [Internet]. Drive and Stay Alive. 2016 [cited 2022 Aug 17]. Available from: https://www.driveandstayalive.com/major-road-safety-organizations-u-s/