OVERTAKING ON TWO-LANE RURAL ROADS

A STUDY WAS MADE OF GAP ACCEPTANCE BY DRIVERS WANTING TO OVERTAKE ON TWO-LANE RURAL ROADS. OBSERVATIONS WERE TAKEN FROM VEHICLES BEING DRIVEN AT CONSTANT SPEED ON STRAIGHT LEVEL ROAD SECTIONS. SOME VEHICLES WHICH CAUGHT UP WITH A TEST VEHICLE WERE UNABLE TO OVERTAKE IMMEDIATELY AND WERE FORCED TO SLOW DOWN AND FOLLOW THE TEST VEHICLE. THE SUBSEQUENT REJECTED GAPS (IF ANY) AND THE ACCEPTED GAP IN THE OPPOSING TRAFFIC WERE OBSERVED. THE STUDIES WERE MADE WITH THE OBSERVERS' CARS TRAVELLING AT 30, 35 AND 40 M.P.H. AT TWO SITES NEAR MELBOURNE. A LOG-PROBIT ANALYSIS WAS CARRIED OUT ON THE DATA. /AUTHOR/