Passing Opportunities at Slow-Vehicle Bays

Recent research investigated ways of analysing and providing for improved passing opportunities on rural highways in New Zealand. This paper focuses on the studies of t he performance of slow vehicle bays. Field surveys at eight sites identified the e ffect of different f eatures on u sage and bunching reduction. The surveys observed h igher levels of use than found overseas, ho wever the effect on vehicle bunching was generally not significant. Minimum desirable lengths for s low vehicle bays were also reviewed and safety e ffects considered. From this, p roject evaluation methods using either simplified procedures or TRARR simulation modelling were developed.