Traffic Engineering

Jose Simbulan
Remzel Socias
Abduljalil Abdulbasit
Traffic Characteristics-
Traffic Engineering
Contents:

 Traffic Engineering
 Traffic Characteristics
 Road User Characteristics
 Vehicular Characteristics
 Breaking Characteristics
Traffic Engineering

 The basic objective of traffic engineering is to achieve free and rapid flow of
traffic with least no. of accidents. These various studies are divided into:

1. Traffic Characteristics
2. Traffic Studies and Analysis
3. Traffic Control Regulation
Traffic Characteristics

 Road User characteristics

 Vehicular Characteristics
 Breaking Characteristics
A. Road User Characteristics

 Factor affecting Road User Characteristics

a. Physical
b. Mental
c. Psychological
d. Environment
Vision

• 6/6 Vision / Normal Vision: It is an ability of a person to

recognize a letter of size 8.5mm at a distance of 6m.

• 6/9 Vision / Poor Vision: This vision is poorer than normal

vision. Can recognize at a distance of 6m but a normal person
can recognize at a distance of 9m.
B. Vehicular Characteristics
 Dimension
-Max Length 18m
-Max width 2.44m
-Max height 4.75m

 Weight of loaded vehicle

 Power of vehicle
 Speed of vehicle
Breaking Characteristics
Traffic studies and analysis

Traffic studies:
1. Traffic volume study
2. Traffic speed studies
3. Traffic flow characteristics and capacity study
4. Origin and destination study
5. Parking study
6. Accident studies
Traffic volume study

Traffic volume (Q)

 It is the number of vehicle crossing the particular section of road. It is
expressed in veh/day, veh/hr, veh/min.
Passenger car unit (PCU)

-all class vehicles are converted into a standard vehicle.

Vo = speed of standard
vehicle
Lo = length of standard
vehicle
Measurement of traffic volume

Manual method
 Trained persons are posted at each lag of an intersection to count and record
the number of vehicles.
Mechanical method
 Radar
 CCTV cameras
 Magnetic detector
 Pressure sensitive detectors
Presentation of traffic volume data

 Annual average daily traffic

 Annual average hourly traffic

 Annual average week day traffic

 Annual daily traffic

Presentation of traffic volume data

Trend chart
-This is used to estimate the rate of growth of traffic that can be used for
planning and future expansion, design, and regulation.
Presentation of traffic volume data

Volume Flow Diagram at intersection

 Can be used to find details of crossing and turning traffic.
 These data are required for designing an intersection.
Periodic Volume count
Traffic speed studies

Types of speed
a. Spot speed
b. Journey speed
c. Running speed
d. Average speed
a. Time mean speed
b. Space mean speed
Types of speed

Spot speed
 It is an instantaneous speed of vehicle at particular instant of time or section
of road. Can be measured using an enoscope, pressure contact tube, or loop
detector.
Journey speed

Running speed
Types of speed

Average speed
 Taken as the average of spot speed of all vehicles.
 It can considered in two different ways.
 Time mean speed
 Arithmetic mean of spot speed.

 Space mean speed

 Harmonic mean of spot speed
Two types of speed study

1. Spot speed study

 spot speed studies cannot be used to find density because measurements are done at one point
only.
Conducted for the following reasons:
 In accident studies
 To calculate the traffic capacity
 Planning of traffic regulations
 Decide he speed trends
Representation of spot sped data
 Speed distribution table
 Frequency distribution curve
 Cumulative speed of vehicle
Two types of speed study

2. Speed and delay study

 Carried out over a long distance. Therefore it is possible to determine density of traffic.
 This study gives the running speeds, overall speeds, fluctuation in speed and delay
between two stations.
Methods in carrying out speed and delay study:
 Floating car method
 License plate method
 Interview technique
 Elevated observations
Floating car method

 This method is used only for two lane road. In this method a test vehicle is
driven over a given length of road.
 Speed of the vehicle should be approximately same as speed of traffic.
 A group of four observers sitting in test vehicle records various details.
1. Will record total journey time and total cumulative delay time using 2 stop
watches
2. Location and reasons for congestion.
3. Number of vehicle overtaking the test vehicle as well as overtaken by test
vehicle.
4. Counts the total number of vehicles in opposite direction on adjacent length.
Origin and destination study

 This is more essential in planning new highway facility or improving existing

road system.

This study is carried out to:

 To locate intermediate stops of public transport.
 To locate expressways and major routes along the desires line.
 To locate new bridge as per traffic demand.
 To identify potential congestion points.
Method for origin and destination data
calculation:
 Road side interview method
 License plate method
 Tag on car method
 Return post card method
 Home interview method
Representation of origin and destination
data
 O&D Table
It show the number of trips between different zones
 Desire Lines
- O and D data is represented by Desire Line.
- the width of the desire line is proportional to the
number of trips in both directions.
- the desire line density map helps to decide the actual
desire of the road user with respect to the path to be
followed between two points.
 Pie Chart
Accident study

Objectives:
 To study the cause of accident
 To support propose designs
 To figure out how much money you’ve lost due to accidents
 To analyze the changes required in existing design
factors that cause accidents

 Drivers
 Road design
 Traffic conditions
 Weather
 Animals
 Road conditions
 Vehicle defects
Type of accidents

 When a moving car collides with a parked vehicle

 When two vehicles approaching from different directions
collide at a intersection
 Head-on collision of two vehicles approaching from
opposite directions
 When a moving vehicle collides with a stationary item
such as an electric pole, a tree, or a stiff structure.
Mathematical Analysis Of Accident
Studies
The following assumptions involved in the analysis of
accidents are:
 If skid marks are present, then it is assumed that 100%
skid occurs.
 If skid marks are not present then free collision is assumed
means no brakes are applied.
Accident Case study – When a moving
vehicles collides with parked vehicle
Parking Study

Parking facilities may be divided into two types.

1. Off Street Parking
2. On Street/ Kerb Parking
Off-street parking

 is given in areas where parking demand is high and kerb parking is not permitted,
depending on space availability.
 Vehicles must park away from the kerb in this form of parking.
 The main benefit of this type of parking is that there is no traffic interruption while
parking.
These are further classified into two.
 1. Surface Parking
 2. Multi Floor Parking/ Garage.
On street/kerb parking

 vehicles are parked along the kerb which may be designed for
parking.
 Different patterns of kerb parking are:
1. Parallel Parking
2. Angle Parking
Parallel parking

 It requires less road width but the number of vehicles that can be parked per unit length
of road is least in this case.
 When kerb parking space and street width are limited, it is preferred.
 Parking and un-parking are more complicated and time consuming in this type of
parking.
Angle parking

 In this case vehicles are being parked at an angle ranging from

30°, 45°. 60°, and 90° • it is suitable to be provided where
availability of road width is more.
 Angle parking accommodates more vehicle per unit length but
maximum vehicles can be parked with an angle of 90°
 45° angle parking is considered to be the best.
Traffic capacity study

 Traffic volume
 Vehicle per hour
 Traffic density (K)
 Vehicle per km
 Jam density (Kj)
 Maximum value of traffic density
Space headway (S)

 It is the distance, maintained between two consecutive vehicle

travelling in same direction.
 It is the total length occupied by a moving vehicle on road, which
includes length of vehicle and the gap between the two vehicle.
Time headway (HT)

 It is define as the time gap between passing of two consecutive vehicle

travelling in same direction.
Time headway

 At very low speeds, the time headway is high and number of

vehicle crossing a section on the road is also low. As speed of
stream gradually increase, the minimum time headway decreases
up to a lowest value at a certain speed.
 The speed at which the value of time headway is lowest represent
the optimum speed corresponding max flow or capacity flow.
 If speed of traffic stream is further increased the minimum time
headway starts increasing resulting in decrease of traffic flow.
Traffic capacity study
Traffic Capacity
 It is the maximum value of traffic volume which a road can accommodate. It is expressed as vehicle per hour per
lane. (Traffic Volume = Traffic Capacity).
Basic Capacity
 This Traffic Capacity under most ideal condition is termed as Basic Capacity/Theoretical Capacity.
 Note: Two road having the same physical features will have the same basic capacity irrespective of traffic condition, as they
are assumed to be ideal.
Practical Capacity
 It is the maximum number of vehicle that can pass a given point on a roadway during one hour, without traffic
density being so great, as to cause unreasonable delay, hazard or restriction to the driver's freedom to maneuver
under the prevailing roadway and traffic conditions.
 Note:
 Sometimes practical capacity is also called as design capacity.
 For design purpose we neither use basic capacity or traffic capacity as they represents the two extreme cases of roadway and
traffic condition.
Calculation of theoretical maximum
capacity
Traffic Control Devices and
Regulation
Traffic Control Devices and Regulation
 Intersection
 Traffic Signal
 Traffic Sign
 Road Marking
Intersection
 Intersection
 Intersection is the area where two or more roads meet or cross.
 At the intersection there are through, turning and crossing traffic movements.
 The movement of traffic are handed depending upon the type of intersection.

Two Type of Intersection

 Intersection At Grade
 Grade Separated Intersection
Intersection at Grade
Requirements of Intersection At Grade
 At the intersection the area of conflict should be as small as possible.
 The relative speed and particularly the angle of approach of vehicle should be small.
 Adequate visibility should be available for vehicles approaching the intersection.
 Sudden change of path should be avoided.
 Proper sign should be installed.
 Good lighting at night is desired.
Type of Intersection at Grade

Unchannelized Intersections
Type of Intersection at Grade

Channelized Intersections
Type of Intersection at Grade

Rotary Intersections
Design Factors For Rotary Intersection
 Design Speed
 For rural area design speed 40kmph.
 For urban area design speed 30kmph.

Shape of Rotary Island

 Radius of Curve at Exit

Two Type of Intersection

 Radius of Central Island

Width of Carriageway at Exit and Entry

 Width of Non-Weaving Section

Width and Length of Weaving Section

Length of Weaving Section

Capacity of Rotary
Grade Separated Intersection
Interchange can be classified based on shape

Trumpet Interchange Diamond Interchange

Full Cloverleaf Interchange Partial Cloverleaf Interchange

 Advantages of Grade Separation
 There is increased safety for turning traffic and by indirect interchange ramp even right turn
movement is quite easy and safe.
 There is overall increase in comfort and convenience to the road users.
 Stage constructions of additional ramps are possible after the grade separation structure between
main roads are constructed.

Disadvantages of Grade Separation

 It is very costly to provide complete grade separation and interchange facilities.
 Construction of grade separation is difficult and undesirable in the area where there is limited right
of way.
 In flat or plain terrain, grade separation may introduce undesirable sags in the vertical alignment.
Traffic Control Devices &
Regulation- Traffic Signal
Contents:

 Traffic Signals
 Type of Signals
 Type of coordination of traffic Signal System
 Important Terminology of Traffic Signals
 Method of Signal Designing
Traffic Signals

 Traffic signals are control devices which could alternately direct the traffic to
stop and proceed at intersections using red and green traffic light signals.

 Requirements of traffic signals

 It should draw the attention of road users.
 It should provide meaning & time to respond.
 It should have minimum waste of time.
 Type of Traffic Signals
The signals are classified into the following types:

1. Traffic Control Signals

 Fixed-time Signal
 Manually Operated Signal
 Traffic Actuated (automatic) Signal

2. Pedestrian Signal
3. Special Traffic Signal
Traffic Control Signals
 Traffic Control Signals have three colored light glows facing each direction of traffic flow. The
red light is meant for stop, green light indicates go and the amber light allows the clearance
time for the vehicles which enter the intersection area by the end of green time.
Fixed-Time Signal

 In Fixed Time Signal the timing of each phase of the cycle is predetermined base on the traffic
studies. The main drawback of this is that some times the traffic flow on one road may be
almost nil and traffic on cross road may be quite heavy but signal operates with fixed timings.
Manually Operated Signal

 These signals are operated manually and not commonly used. In these types
of signals, the traffic police watches the traffic demand from a suitable point
during the peak hours at the intersection and varies the timings of these
phases and cycle accordingly.
Traffic Actuated (automatic) Signal
 Traffic actuated signals are those in which the timings of phase and cycle are changed according
to traffic demand.

 Semi-actuated Signal
 Fully Actuated Signal
Pedestrian Signal

 It is used to give the right of way to pedestrian to cross a road when vehicular
traffic shall be stopped by stop signal.
Special Traffic Signal
 Special traffic signal such as "FLASHING BEACONS" are meant to Warn the traffic. When signal is
flashing red then the vehicles shall stop before entering the nearest crosswalk at an
intersection.
 While flashing yellow signals are caution signals meant to signify that drivers may proceed with
caution.
Types of Co-ordination of Traffic Signal
System
 There are four general type of co-ordination of traffic signals system.

 a. Simultaneous System
 b. Alternate System
 c. Simple Progressive System
 d. Flexible Progressive System
Important Terminology of Traffic Signals

1. Cycle- A signal cycle is one complete rotation through all the indications
provided.
2. Cycle Length- The time in seconds that it takes a signal to complete one full
cycle of indication.
3. Interval- It Indicates the change from one stage to another.
i. Change Interval
ii. Clearance Interval
Important Terminology of Traffic Signals

4. Green Time- It is provided to allow traffic flow through the intersection.

5. Red Time- It is provide to stop the traffic flow on the intersection
6. Amber Time- It is the clearance time provided after green time.
7. Phase
8. Lost Time- It is the time during the phase which is not utilized effectively for
vehicle movement
i. Startup Lost time
ii. Clearance Lost Time
Important Terminology of Traffic Signals

9. Effective Green Time- effective green time is the actual time available for
vehicle to cross the intersection.
10. Lane Capacity
Traffic control and regulation -
Traffic Sign
 Traffic Sign
A traffic sign is a device that is installed on a fixed or portable support and conveys a specific message
using words or symbols. Traffic signs should be set in such a way that they are easily seen and recognized
by road users.

Classification of Signs
 Regulatory/Mandatory Signs
 Warning Signs
 Informatory Signs
 Three Basic Types of Traffic Sign
 Circles - signs that give orders
 Triangles - signs that warn
 Rectangles - signs that give information

A further guide to the function of a sign is its color. Blue circles give a mandatory instruction. Blue
rectangles are used for information signs. All triangular signs are red. There are a few exceptions to the
shape and color rules, to give certain signs greater prominence.
Regulatory/Mandatory Signs
 Stop and Give-way signs
 Prohibitory signs
 Speed Limit and Vehicle Control Signs
 No Parking and NO Stopping signs
 Compulsory Direction Control and Other Signs
 Restriction Ends sign
Warning/Cautionary Signs
Informatory Sign
 Direction and Place Identification signs
 Facility Information signs
 Other Useful Information signs
 Parking signs
 Food Gauge
IRC recommendations for the design of traffic signs
 On high-speed routes, put up large signage.
 Use no more than three words.
 Reflectize of illuminate the signs to be read at night.
 The size of the letters on the sign and the speed of the cars will determine where the signs are
placed.
 Two signs for different purposes should not be placed on the same sign post and should, if possible,
be separated by at least 30 meters.
 Location of the signs with respect to the carriageway.
Road Marking
 Functions of Road Markings Types of Road Markings
 Segregation of traffic
  Pavement Marking
Stop and Go
  Kerb Marking
Give way instruction
  Object Marking
Overtaking or not
  Reflector Unit Marking
Two lanes to one lane/lane traffic
 Inter-vehicle distance
 Parking zone or no parking
 Speed indication
 Direction
 One way
 Pedestrian crossing
 Types of vehicles allowed
Pavement Marking
Common Types
 Centre Lines
 Lane Line
 No Passing Zone Marking
 Edge Lines
 Turn Marking
  Turn Marking
 Turn Marking

 Turn Marking
Kerb Marking
Object Marking
Reflector Unit Marking
Road Delineators
 Road Delineators
Road delineators is provide visual assistance to drivers about the alignment of a road ahead, especially at
night. Reflectors are used on delineators for better night visibility.

Three Types of Road Delineators

 Roadway Indicators
 Hazard Makers
 Object Makers