Comparison of saturation flow rate in normal and snowy weather: Erzincan province sample

In this study, it is aimed to determine whether the saturation flow rate, which has a great effect on signalized intersection design, is affected by snowy weather conditions. Accordingly, it is aimed to compare and analyze the data collection. Dörtyol and Nedim Muradoğlu intersections in the city center of Erzincan are determined as the study fields. The data of the study is collected in these two signalized intersections on the snowy and snowless weather conditions at the peak busy time of traffic in the morning and in the evening. Saturation flow rate for the headway method has used. The headway and the saturated headway are calculated, the beginning time loss is stated and saturation flow rate is calculated. The received calculations are examined and compared for snowy and snowless weather conditions separately. ANOVA test was conducted to determine in which vehicle the headway values obtained in the study reached the saturation headway. After the ANOVA test, it is not observed that snowy weather conditions effect the saturation of vehicle queuing. The saturated headway rate (hs) shows an increase on snowy weather according to snowless weather conditions. The increase of the saturated headway rate causes reducing effect on saturation flow rate. In other studies, the reducing effect of snowy weather on saturated flow values was determined. In the study carried out in Erzincan, the effect was found to be very low due to the low snowfall, sufficient intersection capacities and low traffic density. Consequently, it is cleared in this study that snowy weather has a reducing effect on saturation flow rate. The reducing effect of snowy weather conditions on saturation flow rate can be managed with the informing of drivers and with some precautions.