Method for managing vehicular traffic

Abstract

A method is employed for controlling the flow of vehicular traffic in a traffic management zone, as the traffic is routed through a roadway constriction or an area of traffic congestion. Included in the method are steps for establishing a minimum speed, and for identifying a travel lane for each vehicle. The method also includes the requirement that each vehicle not change lanes while it traverses the management zone.

1 . A method for vectoring vehicular traffic traveling in a same direction on a plurality of lanes, to minimize traffic delays on a roadway, the method comprising the steps of: 
 proscribing lane changes by vehicles within a zone of the roadway, wherein the zone has a predetermined length; and    requiring vehicles to maintain at least a minimum, constant speed while traversing through the zone.    
   
   
       2 . A method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the plurality of lanes is at least two.  
   
   
       3 . A method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the minimum speed is greater than ten miles per hour.  
   
   
       4 . A method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the zone has a start point and an end point and wherein the proscribing step comprises the steps of: 
 positioning a flashing light on a side of the roadway at an upstream distance from the start point; and    posting a sign substantially indicating a “no lane change”/“stay in lane” requirement adjacent the flashing light.    
   
   
       5 . A method as recited in  claim 4  wherein the upstream distance is greater than five hundred feet.  
   
   
       6 . A method as recited in  claim 4  wherein the flashing light is yellow and is affixed to the sign.  
   
   
       7 . A method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the predetermined length of the zone is greater than approximately one hundred feet.  
   
   
       8 . A method for maintaining a flow of vehicular traffic traveling in a same direction through a zone along a predetermined length of a roadway which comprises the steps of: 
 establishing a minimum speed for each vehicle traversing the zone; identifying a travel lane through the zone for each vehicle; and    requiring each vehicle remain in its identified travel lane while traversing the zone.    
   
   
       9 . A method as recited in  claim 8  wherein the zone includes a predetermined plurality of lanes and further comprises the step of establishing a specified spacing between vehicles traversing the zone.  
   
   
       10 . A method as recited in  claim 9  further comprising the step of reducing the number of travel lanes from an original plurality of lanes upstream from the zone on the roadway to the predetermined plurality of lanes in the zone.  
   
   
       11 . A method as recited in  claim 9  wherein the predetermined plurality of lanes is at least two.  
   
   
       12 . A method as recited in  claim 8  wherein the minimum speed is greater than ten miles per hour.  
   
   
       13 . A method as recited in  claim 8  further comprising the steps of: 
 positioning a flashing light on a side of the roadway at an upstream distance from the zone; and    posting a sign substantially indicating a “no lane change”/“stay in lane” requirement in the zone adjacent the flashing light.    
   
   
       14 . A method as recited in  claim 13  wherein the flashing yellow light is affixed to the sign.  
   
   
       15 . A method for reconfiguring a roadway which comprises the steps of: 
 reducing the number of lanes for traffic traveling in a same direction from a first plurality of lanes to a second plurality of lanes;    proscribing a lane change for vehicles traveling in a lane of the second plurality of lanes; and    establishing a minimum speed for vehicles traveling in a lane of the second plurality of lanes.    
   
   
       16 . A method as recited in  claim 15  wherein the second plurality of lanes is at least two lanes.  
   
   
       17 . A method as recited in  claim 15  wherein the minimum speed is greater than approximately ten miles per hour.  
   
   
       18 . A method as recited in  claim 15  wherein the proscribing step comprises the steps of: 
 positioning a flashing light on a side of the roadway at an upstream distance from the second plurality of lanes; and    posting a sign substantially indicating a “no lane change”/“stay in lane” requirement.    
   
   
       19 . A method as recited in  claim 18  wherein the flashing light is yellow and is affixed to the sign.  
   
   
       20 . A method as recited in  claim 18  wherein the upstream distance is at least five hundred feet and the zone has a predetermined length greater than approximately one hundred feet.