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Congestion caused by Speed Differences

Author

Listed:
  • Erik Verhoef

    (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)

  • Jan Rouwendal

    (Wageningen Agricultural University)

  • Piet Rietveld

    (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)

Abstract

In this paper, we investigate congestion caused by differences in desired or possible speeds. Especially outside peak hours, speed differences are probably one of the most important reasons for congestion. Although the model setting, with one lane and no overtaking, may seem simple at first sight, the problemturns out to result easily in quite complicated mathematical expressions. Some main conclusions are that optimal tolls for slow vehicles are higher than those for fast drivers, that the marginal external costs and the optimal tolls for slow drivers are actually decreasing in the equilibrium number of slow drivers, and that ‘platooning’ may become an attractive option especially when the desire for a low speed is caused by a lower value of time.

Suggested Citation

  • Erik Verhoef & Jan Rouwendal & Piet Rietveld, 1997. "Congestion caused by Speed Differences," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 97-105/3, Tinbergen Institute.
    • Handle: RePEc:tin:wpaper:19970105
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Levy, David T & Asch, Peter, 1989. "Speeding, Coordination, and the 55-MPH Limit: Comment," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 79(4), pages 913-915, September.
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    5. Rienstra, S.A. & Rietveld, P., 1996. "Speed behaviour of car drivers: a statistical analysis of acceptance of changes in speed policies in the Netherlands," Serie Research Memoranda 0007, VU University Amsterdam, Faculty of Economics, Business Administration and Econometrics.
    6. Lave, Charles A, 1985. "Speeding, Coordination, and the 55 MPH Limit," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 75(5), pages 1159-1164, December.
    7. Snyder, Donald, 1989. "Speeding, Coordination, and the 55-MPH Limit: Comment," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 79(4), pages 922-925, September.
    8. Lee, Li Way, 1984. "An economic theory of the distribution of traffic speeds," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 15(3), pages 302-309, May.
    9. Fowles, Richard & Loeb, Peter D, 1989. "Speeding, Coordination, and the 55-MPH Limit: Comment," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 79(4), pages 916-921, September.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Andre De Palma & Moez Kilani & Robin Lindsey, 2006. "The Economics of Truck Toll Lanes," ERSA conference papers ersa06p896, European Regional Science Association.
    2. Jan Rouwendal & Erik Verhoef & Piet Rietveld & Bert Zwart, 2002. "A Stochastic Model of Congestion Caused by Speed Differences," Journal of Transport Economics and Policy, University of Bath, vol. 36(3), pages 407-445, September.
    3. Arnott, Richard & Inci, Eren, 2006. "An integrated model of downtown parking and traffic congestion," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 60(3), pages 418-442, November.
    4. C. Robin Lindsey & Erik T. Verhoef, 1999. "Congestion Modelling," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 99-091/3, Tinbergen Institute.
    5. Button, Kenneth, 2020. "The Transition From Pigou’S Ideas On Road Pricing To Their Application," Journal of the History of Economic Thought, Cambridge University Press, vol. 42(3), pages 417-438, September.
    6. Button, Kenneth, 2004. "1. The Rationale For Road Pricing: Standard Theory And Latest Advances," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 9(1), pages 3-25, January.
    7. Verhoef, Erik T., 2001. "An Integrated Dynamic Model of Road Traffic Congestion Based on Simple Car-Following Theory: Exploring Hypercongestion," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 49(3), pages 505-542, May.
    8. C. Robin Lindsey & Erik T. Verhoef, 2000. "Traffic Congestion and Congestion Pricing," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 00-101/3, Tinbergen Institute.
    9. de Palma, André & Kilani, Moez & Lindsey, Robin, 2008. "The merits of separating cars and trucks," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 64(2), pages 340-361, September.
    10. Saenz-de-Miera, Oscar & Rosselló, Jaume, 2012. "The responsibility of tourism in traffic congestion and hyper-congestion: A case study from Mallorca, Spain," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 33(2), pages 466-479.
    11. Robin Lindsey, 2004. "Existence, Uniqueness, and Trip Cost Function Properties of User Equilibrium in the Bottleneck Model with Multiple User Classes," Transportation Science, INFORMS, vol. 38(3), pages 293-314, August.
    12. Bruinsma, Frank & Koetse, Mark & Rietveld, Piet, 2001. "Social costs of land use claims for transport infrastructure: a survey for the Netherlands," Serie Research Memoranda 0033, VU University Amsterdam, Faculty of Economics, Business Administration and Econometrics.

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