Three-Dimensional Stopping Sight Distance Calculation Method under High Slope Restraint

Abstract

Sight distance is an important indicator to ensure the safety of drivers, and is also an indispensable evaluation basis in highway safety engineering. In mountainous highways, high slopes and small radius often lead to poor visibility and traffic accidents. Through the combined calculation of horizontal and vertical sections, this paper comprehensively considers the specific sizes of roadside clearance, high slope, as well as the position and height of the driver’s view point and other factors, and it analyzes the limited visibility of the driver in the process of driving right turn. An effective and simplified calculation method based on design data for three dimensional (3D) stopping sight distance (S.S.D.) in high fill sections is proposed. Finally, the S.S.D. inspection of the actual highway, based on design speed and operating speed, is carried out, and the sight distance of the calculated point is judged by comparing the value with the normal value and the calculation result of the horizontal sightline offset. The results show that the method proposed in this paper is consistent with the sight distance results obtained by the horizontal sightline offset method, which indicates the calculation method is accurate and provides a technical reference for S.S.D. evaluation in highway safety engineering.