LABORATORY 1

SPOT SPEED STUDY

LESSON LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of this laboratory work, students should be:
1) Able to carry out spot speed studies and perform spot speed data analysis.
1.0

Introduction

Speed is the rate of movement of a vehicle in distance per unit of time. Common unit is
km/hr. Spot speed studies are designed to measure speeds at specific locations under the
traffic and environmental conditions prevailing at the time of the study. Spot speed is the
instantaneous measure of speed at a specific location on a roadway. Speed is a basic
measure of traffic performance. Among others, the application of spot speed data are;
i.

For determining traffic operation and control e.g. speed limits,

ii.

For geometric design e.g. sight distances, super elevation,

iii.

For accident analysis and highway capacity computation.

2.0

Aim of Experiment

The objectives of the study are;

i.

to observe the pattern of speed trend,

ii.

to perform simple statistical analysis on speed samples collected and interpret

the results obtained.

3.0

Apparatus

The equipment for the study consists of:

i.

radar speed meter,

ii.

clip board and field data form

4.0

Method
i.

Study site location preferably be a straight stretch section of road.

ii.

Select a position from where the drivers will not be aware that their speeds are
being recorded,

iii.

Aimed the radar unit to the line of vehicle travel over a short distance,

iv.

The speeds of the vehicles would appear on the radar meter and should be
recorded on the field data sheet.

v.
5.0

The speed samples should be taken over a period of 1hour.

Data Presentation and Analysis

Treat the 'raw data' in tabulated form with speed interval of 4.9 or 9.9 km/hr depending on
the speed range. Speeds trend should be presented in graphical form;
i.

Frequency histogram,

ii.

Frequency distribution graph,

iii.

Cumulative frequency graph and determine 15th, 50th, 85th and 95th percentile
speeds.

Statistical analyses required are;

i.

Arithmetic mean speed, u = fv

where N = f

N
ii.

Median speed, = L+

N/2 - fL x C
fM

L = lower bound of the median group

fL = cum no.of freq. up to the lower bound of the median group (L)
fM = no. of freq. in the med. group
C = speed interval of the group
iii.

Modal speed = speed with the highest frequency

iv.

Standard deviation, s =

f (v-u)2
N-1

Spot Speed Study

Data Collection Form
Location:______________________ Observer/s (group):________________________
Lane: ______ Direction of travel:_____________________ Time: _________________
Day and Date:_________________ Weather: _____________ Posted Speed:_________

Speed Range
(km/hr)

Speed
Mid-class
(km/hr)

Car

Van

Lorry
2
axles

Lorry
3
axles

Bus

Motor

Frequency
(f)

0 9.9
10 19.9
20 29.9
30 39.9
40 49.9
50 59.9
60 69.9
70 79.9
80 89.9
90 99.9
100 109.9
110 119.9
120 129.9

Checked By
____________

Spot Speed Study

Data Analysis

Speed Range
(km/hr)
0 9.9
10 19.9
20 29.9
30 39.9
40 49.9

Speed Midclass, v
(km/hr)

Frequency,
f

fv

%f

Cumulative
%f

f(v-u)2

50 59.9
60 69.9
70 79.9
80 89.9
90 99.9
100 109.9
110 119.9
120 129.9

6.0

Discussion
From the graphs plotted interpret the speed trend of the traffic stream, and discuss
the results of your statistical analysis.

7.0

Conclusion