Traffic Engineering Studies

Traffic studies are carried out for collecting traffic data.The results of these studies are used
for design of geometric features and traffic control measures.

Traffic Speed studies

Speed defines the distance travelled by user in a given time. Speed is the ratio of distance
travelled to time of travel. The actual speed of traffic flow over a given route may fluctuate
widely, as because at each time the volume of traffic varies. Accordingly, speeds are
generally classified into three main categories,

1. Spot speed This is the instantaneous speed of a vehicle at any specific location.

2. Running speed This is the average speed maintained over a particular course while the
vehicle is in the motion.

3. Travel speed This is the effective speed of the travel and is obtained by dividing therote
length by the total travel, it includes all delay.

Spot Speed Studies

1) Space mean speed

It represents the average speed of vehicles in a certain road length at any time.It is obtained
from the observed travel time of the vehicles over a stretch of road.

Vs=3.6dn/Σti where i=1 to n

Vs = space mean speed,kmph

d=length of road,m

n= number of individual vehicle observations

ti = observed travel time(s)for ith vehicle

2) Time mean speed

It represents the speed distribution of vehicles at a point on the roadway.It is the average of
instantaneous speeds of observed vehicles at the spot.

Vt = ΣVi/n

Vt = Time mean speed, kmph

Vi = observed instantaneous speed of ith vehicle, kmph

n= number of vehicles observed

Space mean speed is slightly lower than time mean speed

Uses of spot speed studies

1. Planning traffic regulation and control measures

2. Design or redesign of various geometric elements

3. To decide the design speed of existing or new facilities

4. In accident studies and preventive measures

5. Study of traffic capacity

6. To find the speed trends

7. To compare the behaviour of diverse types of drivers and vehicles

Factors affecting spot speed

1. Pavement width

2. Horizontal curve

3. Sight distance

4. Gradient

5. Summit and valley curves

6. Pavement unevenness

Measurement of spot speeds

Determination of Spot speed

Time for a particular distance is measured either manually or with sensors v=d/t (m/s). It is
efficiently measured by a Pre calibrated radar speed meter. It directs a radar beam at the
moving vehicle. Reflected signal is shifted in frequency and the difference in frequency is
proportional to the speed. Other equipments are graphic recorder, electronic meter,
photo electric meter, photographic methods.

Presentation of spot speed data

1) Speed distribution table

After the collection of data in the given conditions, arrange the spot speed values in order
to their magnitudes. Then select an interval speed (e.g. 5 kmph) and make grouping of
data which come under this range. Now, prepare the frequency distribution table.

2) Frequency Distribution Curve

For each speed group, the % of vehicles in the group is plotted versus the average of speed
of the group(s). From this curve definite peak value called the modal speed and pace of
traffic flow can be determine.
3) Cumulative Frequency Distribution Curve

For each speed group, the % cumulative frequency of observations is plotted versus the
higher limit of the speed group. The cumulative frequency distribution curve, however,
results in a very useful plot of speed versus the percent of vehicles traveling at or below
the designated speed. For this reason, the upper limit of the speed group is used as the
plotting point. In both the distribution curve, the plots are connected by a smooth curve
that minimizes the total distance of points falling above the line and those falling below
the line. A smooth curve is defined as one without.

4)Speed dispersion

The spread in speed is represented by speed dispersion.Quality of flow is represented by

speed dispersion.85th – 15th percentile spot speeds.Standard deviation of spot speed.
Coefficient of variation of spot speeds

Speed and Delay studies

This gives the particulars of running speeds or fluctuation in speeds, location or duration
of delays or stoppages and the overall travel speed between two locations. It helps in
identifying the locations of congestion. Fixed delays due to traffic signals and level crossing
need to be calculated. Operational delays due to interference of traffic, turning vehicles,
parking, unparking, accidents etc.

1) Floating car or riding check method

Floating car data are positions of vehicles traversing city streets throughout the day. In this
method the driver tries to float in the traffic stream passing as many vehicles as pass the
test car. If the test vehicle overtakes as many vehicles as the test vehicle is passed by, the
test vehicles should, with sufficient number of runs, approach the median speed of the
traffic movement on the route. In such a test vehicle, one passenger acts as observer while
another records duration of delays and the actual elapsed time of passing control points
along the route from start to finish of the run.

2) License plate or vehicle number method

When the amount of turning off and on the route is not great and only over all speed value
are to be secured, the license-plate method of speed study may be satisfactorily
employed. Investigator stationed at control point along the route enters, on a time control
basis, the license-plate numbers of passing vehicles. These are compared from point to
point along the route, and the difference in time values, through use of synchronized
watches, is computed. This method requires careful and time-consuming office work and
does not show locations, causes, frequency, or duration of delay.

3) Interview technique

This method may be useful where a large amount of material is needed in a minimum of
time and at little expense for field observation. Usually the employees of a farm or
establishment are asked to record their travel time to and from work on a particular day.
4) Elevated Observation and Photographic Technique

In urban areas, it is sometime possible to station observers in high buildings or other

elevated points from which a considerable length of route may be observed. The
investigator selects a vehicle at random and record; time, location and causes-of-delay.
The drawback is that it is sometime difficult to secure suitable points for observation
throughout the length of the route to be studied. This method is primarily a research tool,
it is useful in studies of interrelationship of several factors such as spacing, speeds, lane
usage, acceleration rates, merging and crossing maneuvers, and delays at intersections.
This method is applicable to a short test section only.