Sight Distance

‫حتى يتم تصميم طريق تتوافر فيه عناصر األمان يجب أن تتوافر فيه مسافة رؤية واضحة أمام السائق على الطريق‬
‫حت ى يتمكن من تجنب االصطدام بعوائق غير متوقعة وكذلك تمكنه من تخطى السيارات البطيئة أمامه فى حالة‬
.‫الطرق غير المقسمة‬

The safe and efficient operation of vehicles on the road depends very much on the
visibility of the road ahead of the driver. Thus, the geometric design of the road should be
done such that any obstruction on the road length could be visible to the driver from some
distance ahead. This distance is said to be the sight distance.
 Types of sight distance
1. Stopping sight distance (SSD) or the absolute minimum sight distance
2. Intermediate sight distance (ISD) is defined as twice SSD
3. Overtaking sight distance (OSD) for safe overtaking operation
4. Head light sight distance is the distance visible to a driver during night driving
under the illumination of head lights
5. Safe sight distance to enter into an intersection.
 The computation of sight distance depends on:
1. Reaction time of the driver
2. Speed of the vehicle
3. Efficiency of brakes
4. Frictional resistance between the tyre and the road
5. Gradient of the road.
 SSD Equation
SSD = 1.47vt + _____v2____
30({a/g} ± G)
SSD in feet
u speed in mph (may also see “v”)
t perception/reaction time (in seconds)
a assumed deceleration rate (ft/sec2)
g gravitational force (32.2 ft /sec2)
G gradient in ft/ft
a/g f (Coefficient of friction)