FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA

PASIR GUDANG LABORATORY MANUAL 2

COURSE HIGHWAY ENGINEERING

COURSE CODE ECG344

LEVEL OF OPENNESS 0
CATEGORY TRADITIONAL

DEGREE OF OPEN-ENDED (%) 0

PERIOD OF ACTIVITY 1 WEEK

TITLE SPOT SPEED STUDY

Introduction
The traditional methods of conducting laboratory activities (assigned as Level
0) will not be able to provide the avenue for students to enhance independent
learning activities and inculcate creativity and innovation. The traditional
method is fully prescriptive where the three elements namely problem, ways &
means and answers are provided/fully given to the students. However, it is
still necessary to be implemented as part of the whole laboratory course
activity specially to first and second year students
In this laboratory activity, students are required to conduct a spot speed study
by recording the speeds of sample of vehicle at the specific location in order
to estimate the distribution of speeds of vehicles. Student is provided with the
methodology and guidelines for result and analysis to be presented in their
report.

Objectives
a) To establish the speed distribution of a traffic stream at the specific site or
called as basic speed data
PREAMBLE b) To determine vehicle speed percentiles via speed trend analysis, which are
useful in speed related decision making

Learning Outcomes
At the end of the laboratory activities, students would be able to:
a) Determine speed trends of vehicles by systematic continuous speed
studies using radar gun.
b) Analyze and assess speed as causal factor to crashes, investigate speed
parameter in respect to traffic operation and control like speed limit, speed
zones and the limits of no passing zone

Theoretical Background
Spot speeds are the vehicle speed taken at the specific points along the road
way and the average of such speeds is referred to as time mean speed. Aspot
speed study is carried out by recording the speed sample of vehicles at the
specific location in order to estimate the distribution of speed of vehicles.

©FKA, UiTM, PASIR GUDANG Oct2020

FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
PASIR GUDANG LABORATORY MANUAL 2

Spot speed data have a number of safety applications, including determine

speed trends by systematic continuous speed studies, the measurements of
traffic control device or traffic programs effectiveness, the evaluation of
speeding problems, assessing speed as causal factor to crashes, investigate
existing parameter in respect to the traffic operation and control like speed
limit, speed zone and the limit of no-passing zone, establishes and evaluate
the roadways geometric design for example sight distance elements and so
forth.
Depending on the use of data, the observer must consider whether to collect
speed all vehicles, including platooned vehicles or only the speeds of
unimpeded vehicles. It is impossible to obtain a radar measurement for every
vehicle under heavy traffic conditions. One may collect all speeds during the
peak period for the peak flow analysis whereas the speed of unimpeded
vehicle would be collected for assessing general speed trends or for setting
speed limits or assessing the impact of speed zone signing, thereby off-peak
measurement (free-flowing traffic) are more appropriate.
Study duration of one hour or a sample size of at least 100 vehicles. Position
the radar meter according to procedure specified in the user manual.

Problem Statement
Few cases of accident have been reported occur near the UiTM Pasir Gudang
PROBLEM that located at Bandar Seri Alam. It is believe that over speeding are the
(Guided) major causes of this accident. Speed limits are implemented to prevent over
speeding of vehicles. To determine whether the drivers of vehicles comply
with the speed limit, speed spot studies are carried out to determine the
speed of vehicles operating on the road.

Apparatus
• Radar Speed Meter
• Stopwatch
• Paper Clipboard & Field Data Form

Procedures
The procedure for spot speed study using radar gun are as follows:
a) Perform necessary preparations such as sufficient pens and pencils,
WAYS & MEANS radar meter spot speed study data forms and clipboards, radar speed
(Guided) meters are in good condition, read instructions and procedure for the
used radar gun, obtain backup battery, safety vests and others.
b) Decide study location and selected site should be straight and level
road section that represents different traffic conditions.
c) Enumerators should arrive 30 minutes earliest at site in order to
familiarize by visual survey with it prior to select strategic location,
distribute the equipment, fill in the general information of the spot
speed data recording forms that comprise the observer’s name, time
and date of study, name of site, posted speed limit and weather
condition and begin at the planned time.
d) Sketch the layout of the study area with the description of the chosen
reference points, position of observation, number of lanes and road

©FKA, UiTM, PASIR GUDANG Oct2020

FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
PASIR GUDANG LABORATORY MANUAL 2

class.
e) The enumerators, the radar unit and the station for speed data
collection should be inconspicuous where possible so that vehicular
speeds are significantly not affected by the data collection activities.
f) Randomly select the sample samples, for example the observer could
record a speed reading for every third vehicle or every fifth vehicle.
g) The radar meter should be made as direct a line with oncoming traffic
as possible, meaning to make it as close to the roadway as possible
(an exception when the vehicle speeds considerably)
h) A slash is recorded on the speed data sheet corresponding to the
speed observed for each selected vehicles under appropriate vehicle-
type classification.
i) Observe the vehicle speeds for duration of one hour study.

Data Acquisation

Analysis
The raw data in tabulated form with speed interval 5 km/h or 10 km/h
depending on the speed range. The results of speed trend should be
presented in:
ANSWER Graphical form:
(Guided)
a) Frequency Histogram
b) Frequency Distribution Graph
c) Cumulative frequency graph and determine at 15th , 50th ,85th and 95th
percentile speeds

©FKA, UiTM, PASIR GUDANG Oct2020

FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
PASIR GUDANG LABORATORY MANUAL 2

Statically analysis required are

a) Arithmetic mean speed
b) Median Speed
c) Modal Speed
d) Standard Deviation

Discussion and Conclusion

From the graphs plotted interpret the speed trend of the traffic stream, and
discuss the results of your statistical analysis.

©FKA, UiTM, PASIR GUDANG Oct2020