Evaluation of Effectiveness of Converging Chevron Pavement Markings in Reducing Speed on Freeway Ramps

Abstract

Converging chevron pavement markings have recently seen rising interest in the United States as a means to reduce speeds at high-speed locations and improve safety performance. This paper reports on an investigation into the effectiveness of chevron markings in reducing vehicle speeds on two-lane freeway-to-freeway directional ramps in Atlanta, Georgia. The evaluation is based on a statistical comparison at preselected sites of speeds before and after the installation of the chevron markings. The analysis focuses on the effect of converging chevrons over the range of speed percentiles and on the mean speed. The analysis indicates that chevrons have a minimal effect on vehicle speeds, with drivers adjusting back to their previous speeds as they acclimate to the treatment. The effect of the chevrons’ treatments on speed tended to be most pronounced immediately after the chevron implementation. However, by the 9th month after implementation the magnitude of the effect dropped to under 1 to 2 mph for the mean speed and most vehicle speed percentiles. Although this result does not necessarily imply that the chevron treatment is not a meaningful safety treatment, any safety benefits are not likely to result from a general decrease in speeds.