MODULE 8

Chapter 8
SIGHT DISTANCE

In highway engineering, sight distance is the length of road at which a driver has visibility of
an object, moving or stationary. There are two types of sight distance; for horizontal curves and for
vertical curves. Length of sight distance depends on the length of the curve and grades of tangents for
vertical curves.

Stopping sight distance is one of several types of sight distance used in road design. It is a near
worst-case distance a vehicle driver needs to be able to see in order to have room to stop before
colliding with something in the roadway, such as a pedestrian in a crosswalk, a stopped vehicle, or
road debris. Insufficient sight distance can adversely affect the safety or operations of a roadway or
intersection.

I. SIGHT DISTANCE FOR HORIZONTAL CURVES

1. WHEN SIGHT DISTANCE IS LESS THAN LENGTH OF CURVE, S<L

𝐸𝑙𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠:
𝑆 = 𝑆𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒
𝐿 = 𝐿𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑣𝑒
𝑀 = 𝐶𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑟𝑜𝑎𝑑𝑤𝑎𝑦 𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑜𝑏𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
𝑅 = 𝑅𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑢𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝐶𝑢𝑟𝑣𝑒
𝐷 = 𝐷𝑒𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝐶𝑢𝑟𝑣𝑒
𝑅−𝑀
cos 𝜃 =
𝑅

𝑴 = 𝑹(𝟏 − 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜽)
𝑺𝟐
𝑴 = 𝟖𝑹

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 2. WHEN SIGHT DISTANCE IS GREATER THAN LENGTH OF CURVE, S>L

𝑳(𝟐𝑺−𝑳)
𝑴= 𝟖𝑹

II. SIGHT DISTANCE FOR VERTICAL CURVES

A. SUMMIT CURVES

1. WHEN SIGHT DISTANCE IS LESS THAN LENGTH OF CURVE, S<L

𝑨𝑺𝟐
𝑳= 𝟐
𝟏𝟎𝟎(√𝟐𝒉𝟏 +√𝟐𝒉𝟐 )

2. WHEN SIGHT DISTANCE IS GREATER THAN LENGTH OF CURVE, S>L

𝟐
𝟐𝟎𝟎(√𝒉𝟏 +√𝒉𝟐 )
𝑳 = 𝟐𝑺 − 𝑨

𝑊ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒:

ℎ1 = ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑑𝑟𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑟 ′ 𝑠 𝑒𝑦𝑒 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝑝𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡

ℎ2 = ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑜𝑏𝑗𝑒𝑐𝑡
𝐴 = (𝑔1 − 𝑔2 )% 𝑆𝑢𝑚𝑚𝑖𝑡
𝐴 = (𝑔2 − 𝑔1 )% 𝑆𝑎𝑔

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B. SAG CURVES

1. WHEN SIGHT DISTANCE IS LESS THAN LENGTH OF CURVE, S<L

𝑨𝑺𝟐
𝑳= 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝐿 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑆 𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝐹𝑒𝑒𝑡
𝟒𝟎𝟎+𝟑.𝟓𝑺

𝑨𝑺𝟐
𝑳 = 𝟏𝟐𝟐+𝟑.𝟓𝑺 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝐿 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑆 𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑀𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠

𝑊ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒:

𝐴 = (𝑔2 − 𝑔1 )%

2. WHEN SIGHT DISTANCE IS GREATER THAN LENGTH OF CURVE, S>L

𝟒𝟎𝟎+𝟑.𝟓𝑺
𝑳 = 𝟐𝑺 − 𝑨
𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝐿 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑆 𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝐹𝑒𝑒𝑡
𝟏𝟐𝟐+𝟑.𝟓𝑺
𝑳 = 𝟐𝑺 − 𝑨
𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝐿 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑆 𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑀𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠

𝑊ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒:

𝐴 = (𝑔2 − 𝑔1 )%

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C. PASSING SIGHT DISTANCE FOR VERTICAL SAG CURVE AT UNDERPASS

1. WHEN SIGHT DISTANCE IS LESS THAN LENGTH OF CURVE, S<L

𝐿
(𝒈 −𝒈𝟏 ) 𝐻
8 𝟐
𝐿 2
= 𝑆 2
( ) ( )
2 2
4𝐿(𝒈𝟐 −𝒈𝟏 ) 4𝐻
=
8𝐿2 𝑆2

𝑺𝟐 (𝒈𝟐 −𝒈𝟏 )
𝑳= 𝟖𝑯

2. WHEN SIGHT DISTANCE IS GREATER THAN LENGTH OF CURVE, S>L

ℎ1 +ℎ2
𝐻=𝐶− 2
𝐿
𝑦 = (𝑔2 − 𝑔1 )
8

𝟐𝑺(𝒈𝟐 −𝒈𝟏 )−𝟖𝑯

𝑳=
𝒈𝟐 −𝒈𝟏

D. SAFE STOPPING DISTANCE

𝑽𝟐
𝑺 = 𝑽𝒕 + 𝟐𝒈(𝒇±𝑮)

𝑊ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒:

𝑆 = 𝑆𝑡𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠

𝑡 = 𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 − 𝑅𝑒𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑠
𝑡 = 1.5 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑠 + 1 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑 = 2.5 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑠
𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟
𝑉 = 𝑉𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑉𝑒ℎ𝑖𝑐𝑙𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑠𝑒𝑐.

𝑓 = 𝐶𝑜𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝐹𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
𝐺 = 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑢 𝑃. 𝐶.
𝐺 = (−)𝑠𝑖𝑔𝑛 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑠𝑎𝑔, (+)𝑠𝑖𝑔𝑛 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑠𝑢𝑚𝑚𝑖𝑡
𝑔 = 9.81 𝑚⁄
𝑠𝑒𝑐.2

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E. MAXIMUM VELOCITY OF CAR MOVING IN A VERTICAL SAG CURVE

𝑨𝑽𝟐
𝑳 = 𝟒𝟔.𝟓𝟎 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑉 = 𝑀𝑃ℎ, 𝐿 = 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑡 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐴 = (𝑔2 − 𝑔1 )%

𝑨𝑽𝟐
𝑳 = 𝟑𝟗𝟓 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑉 = 𝐾𝑃ℎ, 𝐿 = 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐴 = (𝑔2 − 𝑔1 )%

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Example Problem 1:
The clearance to an obstruction is 9m and the desirable sight distance when standing
a horizontal curve is 180m. Determine the minimum radius of the horizontal curve.

Solution:

𝑀 = 9𝑚
𝑆 = 180𝑚
𝑆<𝐿
𝑆2
𝑀 = 8𝑅
(180)2
9= 8𝑅
𝑹 = 𝟒𝟓𝟎𝒎 answer

Example Problem 2:
The clearance to an obstruction is 40m and the desirable sight distance when
rounding a curve is 600m. determine the minimum radius of the horizontal curve if the length
L = 550m.

Solution:

𝑀 = 40𝑚
𝑆 = 600𝑚
𝐿 = 550𝑚
𝑆>𝐿
𝐿(2𝑆−𝐿)
𝑀= 8𝑅
550[2(600)−550]
40 = 8𝑅
𝑹 = 𝟏𝟏𝟕. 𝟏𝟖𝟖𝒎 answer

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Example Problem 3:
The length of sag curve is 130m w/ a design speed of 100kph. The back tangent is -
2.5%. Compute the ff:
a. Slope of the forward tangent
b. Distance of the lowest point of the curve from P.C.
c. Length of sight distance

Solution:

𝐿 = 130𝑚
𝑉 = 100𝐾𝑃ℎ
𝑔1 = −2.5% (𝑏𝑎𝑐𝑘 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑛𝑡)

a. Slope of the Forward Tangent

𝐴𝑉 2
𝐿= 395
𝐴(100)2
130 = 395
𝐴 = 𝑔2 − 𝑔1
[𝑔2 −(−2.5)](100)2
130 =
395
130(395)
𝑔2 = (100)2
− 2.5
𝒈𝟐 = 𝟐. 𝟔𝟑𝟓% answer

b. Distance of the lowest point of the curve from P.C.

𝑔1 𝐿
𝑆1 = 𝑔
1 −𝑔2
−2.5(130)
𝑆1 = −2.5−2.635
𝑺𝟏 = 𝟔𝟑. 𝟐𝟗𝟏𝒎 answer

c. Length of sight distance

First, assume S>L. You can check if your assumption is correct when the obtained
value of S is greater than the given L. If the obtained value of S does not match the
assumption, use the other formula.

122+3.5𝑆
𝐿 = 2𝑆 − 𝐴
122+3.5𝑆
130 = 2𝑆 − 2.635+2.5

𝑆 = 116.625𝑚 < 𝐿 = 130𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑒, 𝑊𝑅𝑂𝑁𝐺 𝐴𝑆𝑆𝑈𝑀𝑃𝑇𝐼𝑂𝑁

Use the formula S<L

𝐴𝑆 2
𝐿 = 122+3.5𝑆
(2.635+2.5)𝑆 2
130 = 122+3.5𝑆
𝑺 = 𝟏𝟏𝟓. 𝟑𝟕𝟕𝒎 answer

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Example Problem 4:
A vertical sag curve has a length of 141m w/ tangent grades of -1.5% and 2.5%
intersecting at sta. 12+640.22 and elevation of 240m above sea level. Compute the ff:
a. Length of sight distance
b. Maximum speed that a car would travel to avoid collision
c. Stationing of lowest point

Solution:

a. Length of sight distance

Assume S>L
122+3.5𝑆
𝐿 = 2𝑆 − 𝐴
122+3.5𝑆
141 = 2𝑆 − 2.5+1.5

𝑆 = 152.444𝑚 > 𝐿 = 141𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑒, 𝐶𝑂𝑅𝑅𝐸𝐶𝑇 𝐴𝑆𝑆𝑈𝑀𝑃𝑇𝐼𝑂𝑁

𝑺 = 𝟏𝟓𝟐. 𝟒𝟒𝟒 𝒎 answer

b. Maximum speed that a car would travel to avoid collision

𝐴𝑉 2
𝐿= 395
; 𝐴 = 2.5 + 1.5 = 4

4𝑉 2
141 = 395

𝑽 = 𝟏𝟏𝟕. 𝟗𝟗𝟗𝒌𝑷𝒉 answer

c. Stationing of the lowest point

𝑆𝑡𝑎. 𝐿𝑃 = 𝑆𝑡𝑎. 𝑉 − 𝑥
𝑔1 𝐿
𝑆1 = 𝑔
1 −𝑔2

−1.5(141)
𝑆1 = −1.5−2.5

𝑆1 = 52.875𝑚
𝐿
𝑥 = 2 − 𝑆1

𝑥 = 70.50 − 52.875 = 17.625

𝑆𝑡𝑎. 𝐿𝑃 = (12 + 640.22) − 17.625
𝑺𝒕𝒂. 𝑳𝑷 = 𝟏𝟐 + 𝟔𝟐𝟐. 𝟓𝟗𝟓 answer

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Example Problem 5:
a vertical summit curve has a back tangent of 2% and forward tangent of -3%
intersecting at sta. 10+220.60 and elevation of 200m. the design speed of the curve is 80kph.
assuming coefficient of friction is 0.30 and perception-reaction time of 2.5 secs., compute the
ff:
a. Stopping distance
b. Length of curve if ℎ1 = 1.14𝑚, ℎ2 = 0.15𝑚
c. Stationing of the highest point of the curve

Solution:

a. Stopping distance
𝑉2
𝑆 = 𝑉𝑡 + 2𝑔(𝑓±𝐺)
𝑘𝑚 1ℎ𝑟 1000𝑚
𝑉 = 80 ℎ𝑟 (3600𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑠.) ( 1𝑘𝑚
)= 22.222 𝑚⁄𝑠𝑒𝑐.
(22.222)2
𝑆 = 22.222(2.5) + 2(9.81)(0.30+0.02)
𝑺 = 𝟏𝟑𝟒. 𝟐𝟎𝟖 𝒎 answer

b. Length of curve

Assume S<L
𝑨𝑺𝟐
𝐿= 𝟐 ; 𝐴=2+3 =5
𝟏𝟎𝟎(√𝟐𝒉𝟏 +√𝟐𝒉𝟐 )

5(134.208)2
𝐿= 2
100(√2(1.14)+√2(0.15))

𝐿 = 212.7𝑚 > 𝑆 = 134.208𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑒, 𝐶𝑂𝑅𝑅𝐸𝐶𝑇 𝐴𝑆𝑆𝑈𝑀𝑃𝑇𝐼𝑂𝑁

𝑳 = 𝟐𝟏𝟐. 𝟕𝒎 answer

c. Stationing of the highest point of the curve

𝑆𝑡𝑎. 𝐻𝑃 = 𝑆𝑡𝑎. 𝑉 − 𝑥
𝑔1 𝐿
𝑆1 = 𝑔
1 −𝑔2

2(212.7)
𝑆1 = 2+3

𝑆1 = 85.08
𝐿
𝑥 = 2 − 𝑆1

𝑥 = 106.35 − 85.08 = 21.27

𝑆𝑡𝑎. 𝐻𝑃 = (10 + 220.60) − 21.27
𝑺𝒕𝒂. 𝑯𝑷 = 𝟏𝟎 + 𝟏𝟗𝟗. 𝟑𝟑 answer

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Example Problem 6:
A grade ascending at the rate of 5% meets another grade descending at the rate of 4%
at the vertex of elevation 20m and stationing of 5+000. Solve for the stationing and elevation of
the summit of the vertical parabolic curve which will connect The grade lines for a safe sight
distance of 150m. Height of the drivers’ eyes above pavement at each end of the sight distance
being 1.5m.

Solution:

Assume S<L
𝑨𝑺𝟐
𝐿= 𝟐 ; 𝐴=5+4 =9
𝟏𝟎𝟎(√𝟐𝒉𝟏 +√𝟐𝒉𝟐 )

9(150)2
𝐿= 2
100(√2(1.50)+√2(1.50))

𝐿 = 168.75𝑚 > 𝑆 = 150𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑒, 𝐶𝑂𝑅𝑅𝐸𝐶𝑇 𝐴𝑆𝑆𝑈𝑀𝑃𝑇𝐼𝑂𝑁

𝑆𝑡𝑎. 𝐻𝑃 = 𝑆𝑡𝑎. 𝑉 + 𝑥

𝑔1 𝐿
𝑆1 =
𝑔1 −𝑔2

5(168.75)
𝑆1 = 5+4

𝑆1 = 93.75
𝐿
𝑥 = 𝑆1 −
2

𝑥 = 93.75 − 84.375 = 9.375

𝑆𝑡𝑎. 𝐻𝑃 = (5 + 000) + 9.375
𝑺𝒕𝒂. 𝑯𝑷 = 𝟓 + 𝟎𝟎𝟗. 𝟑𝟕𝟓 answer
𝐿
𝐻 = 8 (𝑔1 − 𝑔2 )
168.75
𝐻= (0.05 + 0.04)
8
𝐻 = 1.898

𝑦 𝐻
(𝑆2 )2
= 𝐿 2
( )
2
𝑦 1.898
(75)2
= (84.375)2
𝑦 = 1.50𝑚
𝑦1 = 𝑔2 𝑥 = (0.04)(9.375) = 0.375𝑚
𝐸𝑙𝑒𝑣. 𝑜𝑓 𝐻𝑃 = 𝐸𝑙𝑒𝑣. 𝑜𝑓 𝑉 − 𝑦 − 𝑦1
𝐸𝑙𝑒𝑣. 𝑜𝑓 𝐻𝑃 = 20 − 1.5 − 0.375
𝑬𝒍𝒆𝒗. 𝒐𝒇 𝑯𝑷 = 𝟏𝟖. 𝟏𝟐𝟓 𝒎 answer

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Example Problem 7:
In a certain underpass, the vertical clearance of the 240m parabolic sag curve with
P.C. at Sta. 13+000 and elevation 30m is 4.40m. The height of the object at the instant of
perception is 1.10m while that of driver’s eye is 1.40m. If the approach grade is -4% and the
passing sight distance is 320m, what is the grade of the forward tangent? At what station
should the catch basin be situated?

Solution:

S>L
𝟐𝑺(𝒈𝟐 −𝒈𝟏 )−𝟖𝑯
𝑳= 𝒈𝟐 −𝒈𝟏

ℎ1 +ℎ2
𝐻=𝐶− 2
1.4+1.1
𝐻 = 4.4 − 2

𝐻 = 3.15𝑚
2(320)(𝑔2 −(−0.04))−8(3.15)
240 = 𝑔2 −(−0.04)

𝒈𝟐 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟐𝟑 𝒐𝒓 𝟐. 𝟑% answer

Stationing of Catch Basin is the same stationing as Lowest Point

𝑆𝑡𝑎. 𝐶𝑎𝑡𝑐ℎ 𝐵𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑛 = 𝑆𝑡𝑎. 𝑃. 𝐶. +𝑆1

𝑔1 𝐿
𝑆1 =
𝑔1 −𝑔2

−4(240)
𝑆1 = −4−2.3

𝑆1 = 152.381
𝑆𝑡𝑎. 𝐶𝑎𝑡𝑐ℎ 𝐵𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑛 = (13 + 000) + 152.381
𝑺𝒕𝒂. 𝑪𝒂𝒕𝒄𝒉 𝑩𝒂𝒔𝒊𝒏 = 𝟏𝟑 + 𝟏𝟓𝟐. 𝟑𝟖𝟏 answer

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