The influence of perceptual-psychological aspects on rural road design

In addition to the requirements of driving geometry and driving dynamics, the psychological and physiological characteristics and limits of drivers - human factors - must also be taken into account when designing traffic systems. On behalf of the Federal Highway Research Institute (BASt), the Technical University of Dresden investigated which aspects of the perception and performance capacity of motorists are relevant for road design and how these can be used to derive general design specifications.

Although the human factors that are decisive for the design of rural roads are already predominantly taken into account in the regulations, there is a need for individual supplements or research. The developed action approaches can be applied to varying degrees in the individual stages of the planning and design process. They can also serve as an instrument for existing roads to develop effective measures to improve traffic safety under local boundary conditions.