Traffic Surveys

Traffic Volume Study

• Represents the number of each type of vehicle passing a traffic
station.
Annual Average daily Volume of traffic / ADT
• Represents the avg. of 365 days.
• 24 hours count are made at 5/15 min interval. Traffic census stations
are installed and either week days or Sunday are chosen for finding
ADT.
• Helps for planning of major roads.
Seasonal average daily traffic
• At places like business, commercial, recreational centres, etc traffic
surveys are conducted to find out the maximum value of seasonal
traffic.
• Helps in planning roads to serve particular centre.
Hourly Average traffic volume
• The traffic census is conducted for peak hours of the day in different
months to determine to determine the maximum avg traffic volume
per hour.

• It helps in planning of traffic lanes of the particular road

Pedestrian Volumes

• The volume of pedestrian traffic is found out which helps to

determine the widths of footpaths, pedestrian crossings etc.
Classified Traffic volumes
• The intensity or number of vehicles of different categories is
determined, such as bullock carts, cycles, rickshaws, buses, cars,
trucks etc.

• For this either manual counting or automatic recording is resorted to.

• This helps to fix up the geometric as well as structural design of the

road.
Origin Destination surveys
• Study is made for the
• Origin and destination of passengers and goods traffic
• Mode of travel of people (foot, bycycles, buses etc)
• Direction
• Time
• Purpose of travel
• Halts made in travel by them

It helps to provide speedy transport, fixing the route of different traffic to

avoid congestions and to specify one way traffic wherever needed
Methods for O-D Survey
• Roadside Interview method: The drivers and persons are contacted to know their origin
and destination, past, present and future trips to be carried out.

• Parking method : The drivers of parking vehicles are contacted for similar information.

• License plate method: The registration number of the vehicles, time of entering or
leaving the area under survey are recorded.

• Return Post card method: The pre paid blank post cards with return addresses are
distributed to the drivers of vehicles with a request to fill in the questionnaire and to
return it duly completed by mail. It is adopted where traffic is heavy
Methods for O-D Survey
• Tag on card Method: The precoded cards are tied on the vehicles when they enter the
area under survey. When the vehicles leave and reach the barrier area, the tags are
removed and the time, destination, route of travel are recorded on the tags.

• Home Interview method: The drivers and vehicle owners are contacted in their homes
and necessary information is collected.

• Workspot Interview method: The necessary information is collected by personal

interviews at the workspots like offices, factories etc.

The statistics collected in OD Survey can be represented in the form of maps, charts etc for
recommending the measures of improvements for the roads under considerations.