Effects of the choice of departure time on road traffic congestion. Theoretical approach

Abstract

In this paper, an attempt is made to show the results of taking into account the way road users decide on their time of departure. Simple assumptions are made concerning the behaviour of road users. The author considers the situation where the road user advances or delays his departure with a view to reducing journey time. Two cases are considered: the road user takes a decision with respect to a desired departure time (work to home trip) or a desired arrival time (home to work trip). This approach is employed in considering the way in which a queue of vehicles can build up behind what is assumed to be a unique bottleneck in congested traffic conditions. A simple mathematical model for the build-up of the queue of vehicles is found to apply to both work to home trip and home to work trip, and the results given by theoretical analysis are compared with those obtained in real traffic conditions. Finally the implications of the analysis are considered with respect to particular factors such as the benefits resulting from an increase in road capacity, the staggering of working hours and control of motorway access. For the covering abstract of the symposium see TRIS 452544. (TRRL)

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