POSITIVE EFFECTS OF A TRAFFIC CONTROL-SYSTEM ON FUEL CONSUMPTION AND EXHAUST EMISSION ON THE GERMAN A9 AUTOBAHN

The influence of traffic control systems with respect to time, speed, quality of traffic flow and daily variation in the number of vehicles on the A9 autobahn between Munich's Frankfurter Ring and the Holledau junction was analysed in both directions with and without motorway con trol, and the 1993 results compared with those for 1991. These data, o btained from a specially equipped measuring vehicle, were then combine d with fuel consumption, CO2 and fleet exhaust emission factors determ ined by the Rhineland Technical Inspection Authority (TUV). CO, HC, NO x and particulates in the exhaust gas were examined. The ultimate targ et is to obtain an analysis of the changes in fuel consumption and exh aust emissions for this particular section of motorway. The benefits g ained from traffic control systems more than compensate for their cons truction and annual operating costs: in particular, the advantages inc lude a drop in the number of accidents, reduced journey times, a reduc tion in stop-and-go traffic, higher average journey speeds on severely congestion-prone motorway sections and reduced emissions in the morni ng hours thanks to more freely flowing traffic. This permits an improv ement in traffic flow and can help to cope more easily with the foreca st increase in traffic volume.