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Spot Speed Study Procedure Guide

This document outlines the procedures for conducting a spot speed study to determine the safe speed limits at a particular road location. A spot speed study involves directly timing vehicles as they pass between two reference points a fixed distance apart, or using a radar gun, to record the speeds of different vehicle classes. The recorded speed data is then analyzed to calculate speed percentiles and other metrics. Charts are created to visualize the speed distribution. The final report concludes with the 85th and 95th percentile speeds to establish safe speed limits and evaluate road design features at that location.

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Aziff Shafzan
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516 views4 pages

Spot Speed Study Procedure Guide

This document outlines the procedures for conducting a spot speed study to determine the safe speed limits at a particular road location. A spot speed study involves directly timing vehicles as they pass between two reference points a fixed distance apart, or using a radar gun, to record the speeds of different vehicle classes. The recorded speed data is then analyzed to calculate speed percentiles and other metrics. Charts are created to visualize the speed distribution. The final report concludes with the 85th and 95th percentile speeds to establish safe speed limits and evaluate road design features at that location.

Uploaded by

Aziff Shafzan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

POLYTECHNIC OF PORT DICKSON


SPOT SPEED STUDY
THEORY
Speed is a primary factor in all modes of transportation, and it is a basic measure of traffic
performance. A spot speed study is a study of speed of traffic at one point or spot on a traffic
way.
OBJECTIVE
1. For traffic operation; establish speed limits and determine safe speed at location.
2. A geometric design features
MATERIALS / EQUIPMENT
Stopwatch, Tape measure (distance measuring device), road markers and radar gun.
PROCEDURE
1. Select the proper location and do the observation at the site. Time studies must be
outside the peak hours either between the hours of 9:00 to 11:30 am, 1:30 to 3:30 pm or 7:00
to 10:00 pm.
2. Select study methodology; a method of measurement
1. Manually

To observe the time required by a vehicle to cover a short distance.

With the direct timing procedure

To reference points are located at a roadway at a fixed distance apart.


Observer stars and stops a stopwatch as a vehicles enters and leaves the test
section.
Brightly
colored
reference post

Observer
Study length

End Timing

Start Timing
Figure 1. stopwatch spot speed study layout

Figure 2 : The recommended length of the path for the local speed study.
Average speed traffic flow
(km/h)

length (m)

< 40

25

40 64

50

> 65

75

2. Radar speed
Aim Radar Gun on the license plate of a car through the street. Make
sure that no more than 10 angle, see Figure 3, below, to reduce the
impact angle of the observed speed of the car stop.
P
B
x
A
x

20

C
x

40

D
x

70

E
x

90

10

Note ; A, B, C, D & E = position of a car during a Radar Gun being pointed.


P = position of the observer with the Radar Gun.
Figure 3: Position of the observer and the vehicle.

RESULTS
Using the information from the first and second procedure, the observer record the date,
location, posted speed limit, weather conditions and record the number and speed of
vehicles by class in Table [Link] work Form.
ANALYSIS & DISCUSSION
By using the local speed of data, evaluate the data and calculate the speed percentiles.
i) The range
ii) Speed Min,
iii) the deviation of the mean, and
iv) the standard deviation.
Also from this data, plot a graph:
i) the frequency distribution histogram,
ii) frequency polygon,
iii) the relative cumulative frequency curve
iv) Determine the 15,50, 85 and 95 percentile speed for all vehicle classes.
CONCLUSION
Finalize the report, file the report and report any assumptions that you make. ( Refer to the
report format & organization)

Table 1: FIELD WORK FORM


Date: ___________________
Place: ______________________________________
Directions: ___________________
Time:
______________________________________
Weather: ___________________
Road surface condition:
___________________
Long road: ____________
Motorcycles
N
u
m

Time

Speed
(km/h)

Vans & small


Trucks

cars
N
u
m

Time

Speed
(km/h)

N
u
m

Time

Speed
(km/h)

Buses & Trucks


large
N
u
m

Time

Total

Speed
(km/h)

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