Characteristics of speeders on freeway ramps

A mobile recording system, with integrated laser speed gun, video from CCD-cameras, digital recorder and auxiliary battery system, was used to observe driving behavior at ramp metering of freeway. Cameras were mounted on a soft shoulder to record: traffic-light status and driving speed from laser speed gun. In addition, one of cameras with telephoto lens focused on windshield of vehicle to catch drivers´ characteristics (i.e. age, gender) and vehicle type. After removal of instances of interference, 1538 driving behaviors were recorded. Binary logistic regression was used to examine the risk of speeding as a function of covariates and interaction terms. The results of analysis revealed that the major contributing factors for approaching speed were traffic-light condition, vehicle type and drivers´ gender. Analysis of binary logistic regression showed that male van drivers had the greatest speeding propensity in our sample (OR = 24.36). The relative risk of speeding for traveling in passenger absence is four times higher than for passenger presence. Moreover, present results confirm that vehicle- type effects vary with traffic light condition. The results of the present study may provide meaningful information applicable to the design and operation of ramp metering system.