Innovative Traffic Controls Technology and Practice in Europe

FHWA-PL-00-021

Vehicular travel is increasing throughout the world, particularly in large urban areas. Accommodating the increased demand, while improving traffic safety, has led transportation officials to utilize a variety of innovative traffic control practices. These practices are used to control traffic movement and to provide road users with better information upon which to base travel decisions. By utilizing these practices, transportation professionals can operate the transportation system more efficiently and safely. In recent years, traffic engineers in the United States have implemented a number of practices to improve the overall quality of traffic flow. However, improved traffic control is a worldwide need and many countries have also implemented innovative traffic control practices. Recognizing the benefits that could result from an examination of international practices, a team of traffic engineers was formed to observe and document practices that might have value to U.S. practitioners. This scan team effort was jointly sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, and the Transportation Research Board.

In May 1998, a team of ten U.S. traffic engineers traveled to Europe to observe innovative traffic control practices and identify those practices that could be implemented in the United States. The team members represented several different perspectives, including Federal, State, and local governments, and two research organizations. The team members are listed in appendix A. During a two-week period, the team visited with transportation officials in Gothenburg, Sweden; Frankfurt, Cologne, and Bonn, Germany; Paris, France; and London and Birmingham, England. These host officials presented information on a wide variety of traffic engineering and traffic control topics and the team observed many other interesting practices during the travel between visits. At the beginning, halfway, and end points of the trip, the team members met to discuss their observations and to identify those practices that might have implementation value in the United States. The team identified many noteworthy practices, several of which may have current or future value to transportation agencies in the United States.

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