The Islamic University - Gaza

Faculty of Engineering
Civil Engineering Department
Highways and Transportation

Report about

Spot Speed project

Prepared by:

Mahmoud M Radi

120123033

Submitted to:

Eng. Eng. Hasan Shehada

Date: 27/12/2014

Introduction: Spot Speed Study

Spot Speed is the average speed of vehicles
passing a point, or the time mean speed. Spot
Speed studies are conducted to estimate the
distribution of speeds of vehicles in stream of
traffic at a particular location on highway,
Carried out by recording the speeds of sample
of vehicles at specified location.

Application of Spot Speeds

1. Speed Limit Studies
2. Establishing Speed Trends
3. Specific Design Applications
4. Specific Control Applications
5. Investigation of High Accident Locations
Theory and Concept
Spot speeds may be estimated by manually
measuring the time it takes a vehicle to travel
between two defined points on the roadway a
known distance apart (short distance).
Requirements:

Stop watch.
Measuring tab.

100
m

Limitations:
Number of vehicles on the sample 30 veh.
Distance between the two specified points Depends on
Speed for street.

Speed

km
hr

Speed < 40
From 40 To 65
Greater than
65

Minimum Distance
"m"
27
54
80

Calculation:
I dived the result to 10 classes from minimum
velocity to maximum as
Max speed
Min speed
Class
Class 1
Class 2
Class 3
Class 4
Class 5
Class 6
Class 7
Class 8
Class 9
Class 10

71.57
21.50
5.00
21.5 TO 26.51
26.51 TO 31.51
31.5 TO 36.52
36.52 TO 41.53
41.53 TO 46.53
46.53 TO 51.54
51.54 TO 56.55
56.55 TO 61.55
61.55 TO 66.56
66.65 TO 71.57

1. Average Speed:
The Sumiton of all spot speeds divided by the
number of recorded speeds.
Where
= average speed
( f i u i)
=
ui = mid speed value
100

=
2. Modal Speed

( f i u i) = 3907.83 =39.07 km
100

100

hr

The speed has maximum value of frequently; from

table we show that Modal speed is 34.02

3. Standard Deviation
Measures the amount of variation or dispersion
from the average.
=

(ui)2
n1

Where:
= standard deviation
= average speed
ui = mid speed value
n = number of observations
=

2625.356
1001

= 5.14

4. Frequency and speed

Frequency and speed

5. Cumulative Frequency and speed

Cumulative Frequency and speed

5. Pace Speed:

The highest speed within a specific range of

speeds that represents more vehicles than in any
other like range of speed.
The range of speeds typically used is 10 km/h or 10
mph.
6. Design speed
95th-percentile spot speed is the speed below
which 95 percent of the vehicles travel and above
which 5 percent of the vehicles travel.
7. Speed limit
85th-percentile spot speed is the speed below
which 85 percent of the vehicles travel and above
which 15 percent of the vehicles travel.

Results:
Classes "Speeds

km
hr "

21.5 to 26.51
26.51 to 31.51
31.5 to 36.52
36.52 to 41.53
41.53 to 46.53
46.53 to 51.54
51.54 to 56.55
56.55 to 61.55
61.55 to 66.56
66.65 to 71.57

Frequen
cy

Cum.
Freq.

Mid
class

(ui)2

f i u i

7
10
23
21
25
8
3
1
1
1
100

7
17
40
61
86
94
97
98
99
100

24.01
29.02
34.02
39.03
44.03
49.04
54.05
59.05
64.06
69.07

227.09
101.27
25.57
0.00
24.57
99.26
224.09
399.04
624.13
899.34
2624.35

168.06
290.15
782.50
819.59
1100.87
392.33
162.14
59.05
64.06
69.07
3907.83

1. Average Speed = =

( f i u i) = 3907.83 =39.07 km
100

100

hr

2. Modal Speed = 34.02

km
hr

3. Standard Deviation =

2625.356
1001

4- Charts
Frequency and speed

Cumulative Frequency and speed

5. Pace Speed:
1- (31 36)
2- (36 41)

km
hr

km
hr

Design speed

= 5.14

(49 )

km
hr

Speed limit

(44 )

km
hr

Comments:
1-Large flow with small side make problem
and low velocity
2-Drivers escape from police because of using
gas as fuel
This explain high velocity.
3-This method not accrete enough , there is
automated system
To do this study like (Road Detectors)