Abstract

GARCIA-RAMIREZ, Yasmany  and  ALVERCA, Fabricio. Calibration of Operating Speed Equations in Mountainous Two-lane Rural Roads: An Ecuadorian Study Case. Rev Politéc. (Quito) [online]. 2019, vol.43, n.2, pp.37-44. ISSN 2477-8990.

The operating speed equations on two-lane rural roads are used mainly to evaluate the road safety that is offered to drivers of light vehicles. This evaluation is more necessary when the road is placed in a mountainous topography because its geometry has more limitations. The prediction equations are based on data speed collected in-situ and these ones are related to the geometric design of the road. Although there are many calibrations worldwide, it has not yet been done for the Ecuadorian context. Therefore, this research aimed to calibrate equations of operating speed in mountainous two-lane rural roads. For this, a mountainous route of the Loja canton (Ecuador) was selected, which was traveled with 16 light vehicles. Its speed was recorded throughout the entire journey through the Video VBOX Lite equipment. For horizontal circular curves and horizontal tangent, equations were calibrated. Of all the variables analyzed, the circular curve radii, the tangent length and the longitudinal slope of the road were statistically significant for the operating speed at 95% reliability. This work, in addition to presenting equations for Ecuador, also extends knowledge about the influence of the longitudinal slope on the operating speed. Using these equations can be carried out to reduce the probability of traffic accidents on this type of road.

Keywords : prediction equations; operating speed; two-lane rural roads; mountainous topography; Ecuadorian context; reduce the probability of traffic accidents.

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