GAP AND GAP ACCEPTANCE

By : LLANES, AHNEEN OLIVER ( Group 1 )

TERM DEFINITIONS:
• Merging – the process by which a vehicle in one traffic stream joins another
traffic stream moving in the same direction, such as a ramp vehicle joining
freeway stream.
• Diverging – the process by which a vehicle in a traffic stream leaves that traffic
stream.
• Weaving – the process by which a vehicle first merges into a stream of traffic,
obliquely crosses that stream, and then merges into a secod stream moving in
the same direction.
WHAT IS A GAP?
• It is the headway in a major stream, which is evaluated by a vehicle driver in a
minor stream who wishes to merge into the major stream.
• It indicates the required distance or time interval within which the vehicle will
safely change over from one lane to another lane.
• It is also the distance or time interval the vehicle is located away from other
vehicle in which it could pass or cross an intersection safely.

GAP VS. HEADWAY

• Gap is measured from the tail of fronting vehicle onto the head of the following
vehicle.
• Headway is measured from the head of the fronting vehicle onto the head of
the following vehicle.
GAP ACCEPTANCE
• In accepting that gap, the driver feels that he or she will be able to complete
the merging maneuver and safely join the main stream within the length of the
gap. This phenomenon is generally referred to as gap acceptance.
Accepted Gaps – it is when a driver accepts the gap between her/his vehicle from
other vehicle and proceeds to the traffic stream.
Rejected Gaps – it is when a driver refused to merge into the traffic stream due to
reasons such as the gap is either very long or very short to proceed into the stream.
CRITICAL GAP
• it as the gap for which the number of accepted gaps shorter than it is equal to
the number of rejected gaps longer than it.

References :
• https://www.chegg.com/homework-help/definitions/gap-and-gap-acceptance-
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• Traffic and Highway Engineering, FOURTH EDITION, Nicholas J. Garber ,Lester A.
Hoel, University of Virginia.