Sight Distance (SD)

Sight distance: distance of a road ahead that is visible to

drivers

Assumptions:
1. Driver eye height
2. Object height
3. Oncoming vehicle height
4. Reaction time

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Sight Distance (SD)

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 Sight Distance (SD)

Types of Sight Distances

 Stopping Sight Distance (SSD)

 Decision Sight Distance (DSD)
 Passing Sight Distance (PSD)
 Operational Sight Distance (OSD)

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 Sight Distance in Design
For safety, should provide sight distance of
sufficient length so that drivers can control the
operation of their vehicles to avoid striking an
unexpected object in the traveled way - STOPPING
SIGHT DISTANCE (SSD)

2-lane roads should have sufficient sight distance

to enable drivers to occupy the opposing traffic lane
for passing other vehicles without risk of crash -
PASSING SIGHT Distance (PSD)

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Green Book (AASHTO) Policy Question

Sight distance assumes drivers are traveling at:

A. The posted speed limit
B. 10 mph above the speed limit
C. The 85% percentile spot speed of the
facility
D. The design speed of the facility

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 Stopping Sight Distance (SSD)
Stopping Sight Distance (SSD): the min sight
distance

It is the distance required by a below average driver

to stop his vehicle before reaching an obstacle in his
path

Note: The minimum designed stopping sight

distance should be long enough for a driver going at
design speed to see an object (potential hazard) and
stop before hitting the object
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 Stopping Sight Distance (SSD)
 Required for every point along
alignment (horizontal and
vertical) – Design for it, or sign
for lower, safe speed
 Available SSD = f(roadway
alignment, objects off the
alignment, object on road height
 SSD = PRD + BD (with final
SPEED = 0)

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 Minimum Required SSD
Recall that:
SSD = Reaction distance + Braking Distance dᵦ
Two components:
Distance traveled while reacting
(2.5 seconds assumed reaction time)
Distance traveled while braking
Assumes wet road (decel rate of 3.4 m/sec2 or
11.2 ft/sec2)
Can be calculated; however, minimum is usually
obtained by AASHTO book

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 Minimum Required SSD
Recall that:
SSD = Reaction distance + Braking Distance dᵦ

SSD = ST + Si² - Sf²

30(f+ G)
Where:
f= Friction Coefficient a/g
AASHTO recommends
a: deceleration rate 11.2 ft/sec²
g: acceleration due to gravity 32.2 ft/sec²
G= Grade; + for upgrade, - for downgrade
Si =initial speed, Sf = final speed (mph)
T: PRT
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 Sight Distance (SSD)
Example:
Use basic assumptions to determine SSD at 60 mph on
a) 0% grade, b) 3% grade

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 Minimum Design SSD; 2001 AASHTO

Source: A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets (The Green Book). Washington, DC.
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, 2001 4th Ed. 11
Minimum Design SSD; 2001 AASHTO
Example:
Given: Available Sight distance = 430’ on a +3% grade
Find maximum speed if perception reaction time is
assumed to be 2.5 seconds

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Minimum Design SSD; 2001 AASHTO

Consider analysis when vehicle skids across

different surfaces (a/g is not equal to 0.35)

Or final speed is not zero at the end of the skid,

as evidenced because the vehicle sustains
crushing damage until the vehicle is stopped.

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 Typical values for friction

Values of friction vary widely with road surface type, age, condition.
Surface type f (or a/g)
Concrete pavement -dry 0.60 to .75
Concrete pavement – wet 0.45 to .65
Asphalt pavement 0.55 to .70
Gravel 0.40 to .70
Ice 0.05 to .20
Snow 0.30 to .60

Source: Lynn Fricke, Northwestern Univ.

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 Decision Sight Distance (DSD)
SSD are sufficient to allow reasonably
capable and alert drivers to come to a quick
stop under ordinary circumstances

May be inadequate when drivers must make

complex or instantaneous decisions, when
information is difficult to perceive or when
unexpected or unusual maneuvers are
required
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 Decision Sight Distance (DSD)
Decision Sight Distance (DSD > SSD):
distance required for the driver to detect unexpected hazard or
unexpected information source, react to them and complete
safe maneuver safely and efficiently

 Requires higher P/R time

 Depends on type of maneuver made and roadway setting
(urban vs. rural)

It’s importance: give drivers additional margin for errors &

give them sufficient time to maneuver at a speed not to stop

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 Decision Sight Distance (DSD)

Source: A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets (The Green Book). Washington,
17
th
DC. American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, 2001 4 Ed.
 Passing Sight Distance (PSD)
Passing Sight Distance (PSD > DSD > SSD):
distance needed to pass or overtake a slower vehicle
travelling in the same direction before meeting on
coming opposing vehicle

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 Passing Sight Distance / Assumptions
•The overtaken vehicle travels at a uniform speed

•The overtaking vehicle reduces speed and trails the

overtaken vehicle

•The overtaking vehicle drivers requires short time to react

before starting the passing maneuver

•The overtaking vehicle accelerates to a speed 10 mph higher

than overtaken vehicle’s speed during the overtaking
maneuver

•When the overtaking vehicle retains there should be suitable

clearance with opposing vehicle 19
Source: A
Policy on
Geometric
Design of
Highways and
Streets (The
Green Book).
Washington,
DC. American
Association of
State Highway
and
Transportation
Officials, 2001
4th Ed. 20
 Passing Sight Distance
PSD = d1 + d2 + d3 + d4

d1 = distance traveled during P/R time to point

where vehicle just enters the left lane

d1 = 1.47t1(s – m + at1) …… PROOF !!!!

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where
t1 = time for initial maneuver (sec)
s = average speed of passing vehicle (mph)
a = acceleration (mph/s)
m = difference between speeds of passing and
passed vehicle
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 Passing Sight Distance
d2 = distance traveled by vehicle while in left lane

d2 = 1.47st2
where:
s = speed of passing vehicle (mph)
t2 = time spent passing in left lane (sec)

d3 = clearance distance varies from 110 to 300 feet

d4 = distance traveled by opposing vehicle during passing

maneuver

d4 usually taken as 2/3 d2

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Elements of Passing Sight Distance

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 Passing Sight Distance (PSD)
Design values for PSD

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 Passing Sight Distance (PSD)
Design values for PSD from MUTCD

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Comparison between SSD & PSD

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 Operational Sight Distance OSD
Operational Sight Distance is not a
design consideration for divided highways.
OSD is based on the 85th percentile speed
at which 85% of traffic travels at or less.

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