Speed Prediction Models for Urban Arterials Under Mixed Traffic Conditions

The present study extends the basic concept of linear speed-density relation to mixed traffic condition and attempts to develop speed equations for different categories of vehicles generally found on an urban arterial in India. Field data were collected on different sections of urban arterials in New Delhi, Jaipur and Chandigarh by video recording method. All vehicles in the traffic stream were divided into 5 categories and a set of simultaneous equations is developed relating speed of a vehicle type to the densities of all categories of vehicles in their individual terms. These equations are solved for some assumed values of traffic volume and traffic composition and effect on speed of each vehicle type is explained. Accuracy of the equations is checked by comparing the observed values of speed with calculated speeds.