Abstract
The quality of rest areas is important to every driver and passenger for as much as safety, convenience and functionality need to be ensured. Most often fatigue and lack of sleep become the main reasons of painful accidents; thus, an efficient layout of rest areas encourages drivers to take a rest from intensive driving. National normative documents enforcing the layout of rest areas in Lithuania have been analysed and expertise of foreign countries has been examined in order to understand the planning principles of rest areas in Lithuania and to identify the key problems. Analysis of the existing situation of rest areas in the south-eastern region of Lithuania has been made for the purposes of using adequate methods leading to the increased efficiency of the layout of rest zones. Moreover, a multiple criteria assessment method along with expert opinion compatibility assessment has been used to identify the quality criteria for the selection of rest areas. Upon resolving the optimisation method coverage task, the demand of rest areas and their arrangement principles on the roads in question have been identified. Optimal layout of rest areas has been proposed relying on the worldwide experience and provisions of normative documents and guidelines.
Highlights
Travelling by car is the most widely spread mode of travelling all over the world
The results of the first data-driven study evaluating the effects of these supplemental rest areas imply that supplemental rest areas provide more opportunities to avoid drowsy driving and, they should be encouraged for freeways as cost-effective safety improvement facilities
Rest areas and stopping places shall be planned by dividing them into function zones: traffic zone, passenger and vehicle service facility zone, hygiene and sanitary facility zone and green plantation zone
Summary
Travelling by car is the most widely spread mode of travelling all over the world. For this reason, the road infrastructure needs to be adequately developed, i.e., it has to be equipped with roadside rest areas, petrol stations, bus stops, tourism information boards, road information and service supply signs, and other infrastructure elements along the road. The German normative standard (Forschungsgesellschaft für Straßen- und Verkehrswesen, 2011) indicates that the aspects listed below should be considered in the planning of rest areas: demand of car parking areas and supply/availability of the proposed sanitary services; top quality conditions to have a rest; safe entry and exit spaces while driving at a high speed; undisturbed car parking and pedestrian traffic; the least possible adverse impact on the nature, landscape and vicinities; investments, operation and maintenance costs. Based on the expertise and best available practice of the EU member states, the following criteria shall be taken into account when planning locations for the layout of the rest areas: significance of a motorway concerned; traffic safety; design speed on the motorway and traffic volume; number and category of visitors; number and type of vehicles; intended number of parking lots; average duration of vehicle parking; cost-effectiveness; environmental protection; reason of visiting; exceptionality of landscape (Forschungsgesellschaft für Straßen- und Verkehrswesen, 2011). Rest areas should attract as much people as possible provided they are functional, tidy and suggest proper quality of rest due to their safe surroundings
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