Study Material Week 01 TE-Module-A

NPTEL Online Certification Course on
Traffic Engineering
Module A
Traffic Components and
EL
Characteristics Prof. Bhargab Maitra
PT
Department of Civil Engineering
Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
N
India
IIT Kharagpur | Traffic Engineering| Module A

Contents
• Traffic Engineering Objectives
• Role of Transportation Demand and Land-Use
• Mobility and Accessibility
EL
• Traffic Engineering Elements
PT
• Components of Traffic Stream: Road users, vehicles, roadways, traffic
N
control devices
IITIIT
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Kharagpur Engineering|
| Traffic Module
Engineering| AA
Module 2
Traffic Engineering
Module A
Characteristics
EL
Prof. Bhargab Maitra
Week 1: Lecture A.1
PT
Traffic Engineering Objectives and
N
India
Role of Transportation Demand & Land-use

Introduction
Traffic Engineering
• A branch of civil engineering which deals with safe
and efficient movements of people and goods
along roadways in a multi-modal system
EL
✓The most common unit used by a traffic engineer
PT
is ‘vehicles’: Transportation systems are planned,
N
designed and operated to move vehicles safely
and efficiently from place to place
✓But, the main goal is the movement of people and

goods that occupy vehicles
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Module 4
Introduction
• Traffic engineering is used for designing public and
private sector transportation solutions duly
considering all elements such as traffic flow, road
geometry, sidewalks, bicycle facilities, shared lane
EL
markings, traffic signs, traffic lights, etc.
PT
N
Providing safety and efficiency became a complex
job for a traffic engineer in multimodal system
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Module 5
Introduction
Person Movement
• In the context of traffic engineering, the focus is on person movements

on streets and highways (excluding rail, air, water transportation, etc.)
• Within
EL
and between urban agglomerations people normally move in a
PT
mix of vehicles:
✓ Private Vehicles ✓ Bus ✓ Paratransit ✓ Bicycle
• Varied N
level of heterogeneity in vehicular stream
prevails in developing countries
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Module 6
Introduction
Goods Movement
• The efficient movement of goods is vital to the general economy of the

nation
• Timely delivery of raw material and finished products can be achieved
EL
PT
through a well managed freight transport system
• Long-distance
N
shipment of goods/raw materials is
often accomplished by water, rail, or air transportation:
The final leg of the trip to deliver a good to the local
store or the home of a consumer takes place on a truck
using the road systems
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Module 7
Traffic Engineering Objectives
Objectives
• Primary Objective
✓Safety
EL
• Other Objectives
PT
✓Speed ✓Economy
N
✓Comfort ✓Environmental
Compatibility
✓Convenience
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Module 8
Safety (Primary Objective)
• The principal goal of a traffic engineer is to provide a safe transportation

system for public
• Globally,
EL
approximately 1.35 million people die each year as a result of
PT
road traffic crashes
• 93%
N
of the world fatalities on the roads: Low and
middle income countries
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Module 9
• In 2019, India recorded around 4.5 lakhs road accidents and 1.5 lakhs road
fatalities: Road safety is a major public health hazard
Road Accidents Road Accidents Injuries Road Accidents Deaths

600
ACCIDENTS / INJURIES / DEATHS IN
EL
500
PT
400
(‘000)
N
300
200
100
0
1 9 7 0 1 9 8 0 1 9 9 0 2 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 2 0 11 2 0 1 2 2 0 1 3 2 0 1 4 2 0 1 5 2 0 1 6 2 0 1 7 2 0 1 8 2 0 1 9
YEAR
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Module 10
• India ranks 1st among 199 countries in road
accidents
• Each year about 3% to 5 % of the country’s

(India) GDP is lost due to road accidents
EL
• The objective of safe travel is always number
PT
one and is never finished for the traffic
N
engineer
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Module 11
Other Objectives
• Relate to self-evident desires of the travelers

• People want their trips to be fast, comfortable, convenient and cheap (in
EL
terms of fare or out-of-pocket expenses)
PT
• Other aspects of economy (excluding fare) and
N
environmental compatibility are also important from
the point of view of the society
• Balancing these objectives against each other and

against primary objective of safety is a challenge
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Module 12
• Speed
✓Travel speed is needed for faster movement of
vehicles: Restricted by transportation technology,
human characteristics and safety consideration
EL
• Comfort
PT
✓Relates to physical characteristics of vehicles and
N
roadways, travel conditions (say, crowding in
public transport) and depends on user perception
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Module 13
• Convenience
✓ Relates to ease of making trips and depends on
user perception
• Economy
EL
PT
✓Users point of view: Fare of trips
N
✓Overall context: Best return possible against the
investment of public money in construction,
operation and maintenance
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Module 14
• Environment
✓Minimizing the impact of transportation systems on the environment: Air
quality and noise
✓Compatibility of transportation systems with physical environment-
EL
harmony of transport systems with environment by providing aesthetically
PT
pleasing facilities that fit in with the surroundings
N
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Module 15
• The traffic engineer is tasked with all of these goals and objectives and
making an appropriate trade-offs to optimize both the transportation
systems and the use of public funds to build, operate and maintain related
infrastructure and facilities
EL
• Transportation
Systems are a major component of economy, and have
PT
enormous impact on shape of the society and efficiency of economy
N
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Module 16
Role of Transport Demand and Land Use
• The unprecedented growth of vehicles Transport
Demand
(directly related to transportation
demand): The primary concern for
Transport
traffic engineers Facilities
Land Use
EL
• Transportation demand is directly
PT
related to land-use, and available
N
transportation systems and facilities
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Module 17
Role of Transport Demand and Land Use
• Improvementof transportation systems Land Use
makes the nearby land more accessible

Land Value Trips
and therefore, attract more developments
Transportation
• More developments result in even higher Accessibility
needs
EL
transportation demands Transportation
PT
Facilities
• This circular, self reinforcing
N
characteristics of traffic demand creates a
central dilemma
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Module 18
Summary
• Traffic engineering mainly focuses on safe and
efficient movement of people and goods (not
vehicles) along roadways in a multimodal system
• Although primary objective of a traffic engineer is to
EL
provide safety of vehicles on roads, all other
PT
objectives must be balanced with each other
N
• Land use, transportation demand and available
transportation facilities are interlinked with each-other
and creates a vicious cycle
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Module 19
THANK YOU
EL
PT
N
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Module 20
Traffic Engineering
Module A
Characteristics
EL
Week 1: Lecture A.2
PT
Mobility and Accessibility, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
N
Traffic Engineering Elements India
and Components of Traffic System

Recap of Lecture A.1
• Traffic engineering mainly focuses on safe and
efficient movement of people and goods (not
vehicles) along roadways in a multimodal system
• Although primary objective of a traffic engineer is to
EL
provide safety of vehicles on roads, all other
PT
objectives must be balanced with each other
N
• Land use, transportation demand and available
transportation facilities are interlinked with each-
other and creates a vicious cycle
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Module 22
Mobility and Accessibility
Safety
EL
Mobility
Transport Traffic
PT
System Engineering
N
Accessibility
Efficiency
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Module 23
Mobility
• Refers to the ability to travel alternative destinations within a reasonable
time, with relative ease, and at a reasonable cost
• Provides trip makers with choices for all kinds of trip
EL
PT
purposes, including recreational, educational, work
etc.
N
• Depends on effectiveness of the through facilities that
takes a traveler from one specific area to another
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Module 24
Accessibility
• Refers to the ability to gain entry to a desired destination and a major
factor in the value of land
• Proximity
EL
of land to major highways and transit facilities is a major
PT
factor for determining its value
• It is important to make a transfer from transportation
N
system to a particular land parcel where desired
activity is taking place
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Module 25
Expressways
Accessibility
Mobility Function
Car
Major Arterial
Minor Arterial Bus
Airplane
Major Collector
EL
Subway
Minor Collector
PT
Local Street
N
Mobility
Accessibility Function
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Module 26
Traffic Engineering Elements
• Traffic Characteristics
• Performance Evaluation
• Facility Design
EL
• Traffic Control
PT
• Traffic Operations
N
• Transportation Systems Management
• Integration of Intelligent Transport System Facilities
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Module 27
Traffic Characteristics
• Involves measuring and quantifying various aspects of traffic
• Studies focus on data collection and analysis to characterize traffic
EL
✓Traffic Volume and Demand
PT
✓Speed and Travel Time
N
✓Delay
✓Accidents
✓Origin-Destination
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Module 28
Performance Evaluation
• To understand the operating characteristics of
individual sections of facilities and facilities as
a whole in relative terms
EL
• Quality
PT
and performance is often stated in
terms of “levels of service”
N
• Levels of service are letter grades, from A to F,
describing how well a facility is operating
using specified performance criteria
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Module 29
Facility Design
• Involves traffic engineers in functional and geometric design of highways
and other traffic facilities
• Traffic engineers are not involved in the structural design of transportation
EL
facilities but should have some knowledge for structural characteristics of
PT
their facilities
N
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Module 30
Traffic Control
•A central function of traffic engineers: Involves establishment of traffic
regulations and their communication to drivers and other road users
through the use of traffic control devices, such as signs, markings, and
EL
signals
PT
N
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Module 31
Traffic Operations
• Involves measures that influence overall operation of traffic facilities : One-
way street systems, transit operations, curb management, and surveillance
and network control systems
EL
PT
N
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Module 32
Transportation Systems
Management
• Involves virtually all aspects of traffic
engineering with a focus on optimizing
EL
system capacity and operations
PT
• Specific aspects of TSM include high-
N
occupancy vehicle priority systems, car-
pooling programs, pricing strategies to
manage demand, and similar functions
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Module 33
Integration of Intelligent Transport System Facilities
• Refers to the application of modern telecommunications technology to the
operation and control of transportation systems
• Such
EL
systems include automated highways, automated toll-collection
PT
systems, vehicle-tracking systems, in-vehicle GPS and mapping systems,
automated enforcement of traffic lights and speed laws,
N
smart control devices etc.
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Module 34
Components of Traffic Stream
EL
Road Users Vehicles Roadways Control Devices
PT
• Uncontrollable factors- Road Users and Vehicles
N
• Controllable factors- Roadways and Control Devices
General Environment: Weather, lighting, density of
development, local enforcement policies etc. influence
traffic operations
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Module 35
Dealing with Diversity
• Traffic engineering would have been much simpler if different components
(e.g. road users, vehicles etc.) had uniform characteristics
EL
✓If reactions of all the drivers to traffic control devices are similar, then
PT
design of traffic control will become easier
N
✓Safety could be easily achieved if all vehicles have
uniform characteristics (In terms of size,
acceleration, speed etc.)
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Module 36
• Due to non-uniformity in components of traffic engineering, simple
issues like reaction time, vision characteristics, walking speed, etc.
become complex
• Most human characteristics follow normal distribution which is
EL
characterized by a strong central tendency
PT
• Because of this variation, it is not desirable to design
N
a traffic system using average values
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Module 37
✓If average value of pedestrian speed is used for design a pedestrian
crossing, then half of the pedestrians (50%) won’t be able to cross
due to lower speed than the average speed and may get exposed to
additional risks on roads
EL
• Percentile values may be a better option than average
PT
values for design purposes
N
✓15th percentile walking speed indicates only 15
percent pedestrians walk slower than this
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Module 38
Addressing Diversity through Uniformity
• Although traffic engineers have less control over driver and vehicle
characteristics, a strong degree of uniformity of approach is desirable for
the design of roadways and traffic control
EL
• Roadways
PT
of similar type and function should have a
familiar look to drivers and traffic control devices
N
should be as uniform as possible
• While this uniformity approach does not guarantee

similar reactions of drivers, this at least narrows the
range of behavior
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Module 39
Summary
• While traffic engineering focuses on providing safety
and efficiency, basic function of transportation
system is to provide mobility and accessibility
• Non-uniform characteristics of different traffic
EL
engineering components (Vehicle, roadways etc.)
PT
make the job difficult for the traffic engineer
N
• Uniformityof approach is needed to deal with the
complexity of non-uniform characteristics of different
components
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Module 40
THANK YOU
EL
PT
N
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Module 41
Traffic Engineering
Module A
Characteristics
EL
Week 1: Lecture A.3
PT
Road Users
N
India

• While traffic engineering focuses on providing safety and efficiency, basic
function of transportation system is to provide mobility and accessibility
• Non-uniform characteristics of different traffic engineering components

(Vehicle, roadways etc.) make the job difficult for the traffic engineer
EL
• Uniformity
PT
of approach is needed to deal with the complexity of non-
uniform characteristics of different components
N
Road Users Vehicles Roadways Control Devices
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Module 43
Components of Traffic Stream: Road Users
• Human elements separate traffic engineering from most other engineering
disciplines: Drivers, passengers, pedestrians, bicyclists are integral part
of traffic engineering
• Several critical characteristics of road users are quantifiable and can be
EL
taken into account in traffic engineering decisions:
PT
✓Visual Acuity (Static & Dynamic) and Fields of Vision
N
✓Perception and Reaction time
✓Hearing, Personality and Psychological Factors
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Module 44
Visual Acuity
• Static visual acuity: Ability to see small stationary details clearly
• Dynamic visual acuity: Ability to see objects that are in motion relative to
EL
the eye
• A person with normal vision is said to have 6/6 vision
PT
N
• Normal vision is defined as the ability of a person to
recognize a letter or an object (size about 8.5 mm)
from a distance of nearly 6.0 m
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Module 45
• Visual
acuity measurement (static) is necessary while issuing or giving
renewal of driving license (by performing a standard eye test)
• Static visual acuity test is just a prerequisite for good vision characteristics:
Can-not guarantee that the person who is having good static visual acuity
EL
will also have a good dynamic visual acuity
PT
• Knowledge
N
of visual acuity of drivers is important
while designing road signs
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Module 46
Peripheral Vision (120o to 180o)
Fields of Vision
• Includes acute or clear vision cone, fairly
clear vision cone and peripheral vision Fairly Clear (10o to
12o)
cone
EL
PT
Acute or Clear Vision Cone Acute Vision cone (3o to 10o)
N
✓3° to 10° around the line of sight
✓Legend can be read only within this

narrow field of vision
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Module 47
Peripheral Vision (120o to 180o)
Fairly Clear Vision Cone
✓10° to 12° around the line of sight
✓Color and shape can be recognized in Fairly Clear (10o to
EL
12o)
this field
PT
Acute Vision cone (3o to 10o)
Peripheral Vision
N
✓May extend up to 90° to the right and
left of the centerline of the pupil, and
up to 60° above and 70° below the line
of sight
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Module 48
✓Stationary objects are generally not seen in the peripheral vision field,
but the movement of objects through this field is detected
• Information on field of vision is important while deciding the placement of

road signs
EL
• Shape and color of road signs needs to be uniform
PT
considering field of vision
N
✓For example, signs should be placed within 10
degree cone of vision of drivers so that drivers do
not require to change the line of sight while driving
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Module 49
• However, these field of visions are defined for
stationary person
• Peripheral vision narrows as speed increases

such as from 100 degree to 40 degree while
EL
speed changes from 32 km/h to 64 km/h 32 km/h 64 km/h
PT
• Objects placed in the periphery vision range can draw
N
the attention of the drivers and appropriate action can
be taken
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Module 50
✓For example, appropriate action can be taken when child running onto
the street after a ball or vehicles approaching to the intersections, if
these incidents happen within the clear periphery vision of the driver
EL
PT
N
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Module 51
Visual Deficits
• Visualproblems like cataracts, glaucoma, peripheral vision deficits,
diabetes, color blindness, etc. can have negative impact to driver’s
performance, if the problems became acute
EL
• Out of these visual problems, even milder version of color blindness can
PT
have devastating effect to the affected driver
N
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Module 52
• The inability to distinguish between green and red color can create safety
problem on the road near traffic signals
• To overcome this difficulty, some blue pigment is added to the green lights
and some yellow pigment is added to the red lights
EL
• As a result, color blind drivers may be able to distinguish between red and
PT
green lights
N
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Module 53
Perception-Reaction Process
EL
PT
N
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Module 54
Detection or Perception
✓In this phase, an object or condition of concern enters the driver’s field
of vision, and the driver becomes consciously aware that something
requiring a response is present
EL
Identification or Intellection
PT
✓In this phase, the driver acquires sufficient
N
information concerning the object or condition to
allow the consideration of an appropriate
response
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Module 55
Decision or Emotion
✓ Once identification of the object or condition is sufficiently completed,

the driver must analyze the information and make a decision about
how to respond
EL
Response or Volition
PT
✓After a decision has been reached, the response
N
is now physically implemented by the driver
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Module 56
• Perception-reactiontime (PRT) is helpful in deciding braking distance,
overtaking distance etc. and also in amber time determination
• PRT depends on the characteristics of the driver, type and complexity of

the event to be responded by the driver
EL
• AASTHO recommends different values of PRTs in
PT
different situations
N
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Module 57
Situation Recommended PRT
Normal stop at a signal control 1.0s
Normal stop on a highway 2.5s
EL
Avoidance maneuver: Stop on a highway 3.0s
PT
Avoidance maneuver: Stop on an Urban Road 9.1s
N
Avoidance maneuver: Speed/path/direction 10.2-11.2 s
change on rural road
Avoidance maneuver: Speed/path/direction 12.1-12.9s
change on sub-urban road
Avoidance maneuver: Speed/path/direction 14.0-14.5s
change on urban road
IIT Kharagpur | Traffic Engineering| Module A 58

Factors affecting PRT
• Expectancy: Significant impact on PRT

✓Reaction of drivers will be quicker in situations they expect to
encounter rather than in situations they do not expect to encounter
EL
PT
✓For example, drivers do not expect that the leading vehicle will slow
down without a reason
N
✓Drivers react quickly to the alerted situations than
the surprise
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Module 59
✓When a red light is added to initiate braking, then the reaction is even
quicker (Less PRT time)
• Other factors like age, fatigue, consumption alcohol or drugs by the

drivers can influence PRT
EL
PT
PRT in Seconds
N
Brake
Alerted
Surprise
Percentile
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Module 60
Psychological and Physical Factors
• “Road rage” is the extreme expression of a driver’s psychological and
personal displeasure (aggressiveness) over the traffic situation he or she
has encountered
EL
• It does, however, remind traffic engineers that drivers
PT
display a wide range of behaviors in accordance with
N
their own personalities and psychological
characteristics
• Mostof these factors cannot be addressed directly

through design or control decisions
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Module 61
• Rather those factors can be best treated through vigorous enforcement
and educational programs
Pedestrian Characteristics
• Traffic engineering is not limited to consideration of motorists and their
EL
PT
vehicles but it must also consider other users of transportation system
like pedestrians:
N
✓Pedestrian Crossing and Sideways
✓Pedestrian Signals wherever necessary
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Module 62
• Pedestrians
walking speed at cross
walks is an important factor to be
considered in signal timing design
• Gap acceptance behavior of
EL
pedestrians is important in crosswalks
PT
involving unsignalized intersections
N
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Module 63
Summary
• Human elements separate traffic engineering to most
other engineering disciplines
• The concept of visual acuity, field of vision,

perception-reaction time etc. are helpful in designing
EL
road signs, deciding sight distances etc.
PT
• Considerationof pedestrians are important besides
N
vehicles and motorists
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Module 64
THANK YOU
EL
PT
N
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Module 65
Traffic Engineering
Module A
Characteristics
EL
PT
Week 1: Lecture A.4
N
Vehicles, Roadways and India
Traffic Control Devices

• Human elements separate traffic engineering to most
other engineering disciplines
• The concept of visual acuity, field of vision,

perception-reaction time etc. are helpful in designing
EL
road signs, deciding sight distances etc.
PT
• Considerationof pedestrians are important besides
N
vehicles and motorists
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Module 67
Components of Traffic Stream: Vehicles
• As transportation systems accommodate a wide variety of sizes and
types of vehicles, traffic engineers must address this issue by adopting
standard vehicle characteristics for design and control purposes
Design Vehicles
EL
PT
Vehicle Characteristics
N
✓Physical Characteristics (Weight, Dimensions)
✓Operating Characteristics (Braking, Acceleration )
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Module 68
• Design vehicles are used to determine a variety of geometric features of
highway such as lane width, extra widening on curves, minimum corner
radius, clearance height, etc.
Acceleration Characteristics
EL
•
PT
Heavier vehicles have lower rates of acceleration
than passenger cars
N
• Difference in acceleration capability of different types
of vehicles is a major cause of inefficiency in mixed
traffic streams
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Module 69
Braking Characteristics
• In highway safety and design, the most critical performance

characteristic of vehicles is braking or deceleration
EL
• Time and distance required to stop a vehicle is a
PT
primary consideration in almost every aspects of
N
traffic system design and operation
Design Driver
• A driver, albeit fictitious, who has the characteristics

chosen by a designer is called design driver
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Module 70
•A designer must choose those characteristics in a way which make
design safe for most of the drivers
• General Characteristics of Design Driver:
EL
✓Perception-reaction time is 2.5 seconds
PT
✓Comfortable deceleration rate of 3m/s2
N
✓Allowable jerk of about 0.7m/s3
✓ 6/7.5 visual acuity
✓Critical gap value between 4 and 7.5 seconds
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Module 71
Components of Traffic Stream: Roadways
Functional Classification
• Highway/road facilities are classified by the relative amounts of through
traffic movement and land access service they provide
• Vehicle
EL
operations are greatly influenced by geometric features of
PT
roadways-
N
✓Cross Section Elements (Lane & Shoulder Width)
✓Horizontal Alignment
✓Vertical Alignment
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Module 72
Classification of Urban Roads
(IRC:69-1977)
✓Expressways
EL
✓Arterial Roads Local Streets
PT
✓Sub-arterial Roads
N
Collectors
✓Collector Streets
✓Local Streets
IITIIT
Kharagpur | Traffic
| Traffic Module
Engineering| AA
Module 73
Expressways
• Provides 100 % through movement or mobility

with no accessibility to abutting lane is
permitted
EL
Arterials
PT
• Primarily
Expressways
designed for through movement but
N
some accessibility is permitted
Sub-Arterials
• Lower level of mobility than arterial roads
IITIIT
Kharagpur | Traffic
| Traffic Module
Engineering| AA
Module 74
Collector Streets
• An intermediate facility between arterials and local roads

Local Streets
EL
• Primarily designed for access to abutting lands with minor mobility function
PT
N
Arterial Roads Collector Street Local Street
IITIIT
Kharagpur | Traffic
| Traffic Module
Engineering| AA
Module 75
• Classification of Rural Roads (IRC:73-1980)
✓ National Highways ✓ State Highways ✓ Major District Roads
EL
PT
N
✓ Other District Roads ✓ Village Roads
IITIIT
Kharagpur | Traffic
| Traffic Module
Engineering| AA
Module 76
Components of Traffic Stream: Traffic Control Devices
• Communication of traffic laws and regulations to drivers by means of
control device
✓ Road Markings
✓ Traffic Signs
EL
PT
✓ Road Delineators
N
✓ Traffic Signals
IITIIT
Kharagpur | Traffic
| Traffic Module
Engineering| AA
Module 77
• Control devices are the only measures of transmitting operational rules to
drivers: Must be clear, easily interpreted and commanding of attention
• Regulatory aspects of traffic control must be enforced
EL
PT
N
IITIIT
Kharagpur | Traffic
| Traffic Module
Engineering| AA
Module 78
Road Markings
• Made of lines, words, symbols or reflectors and
are intended to regulate, control, warn or guide
road users
EL
• Code: IRC:35-2015
PT
• Provided to ensure
N
smooth
and orderly flow of traffic
IITIIT
Kharagpur | Traffic
| Traffic Module
Engineering| AA
Module 79
• To signify the delineation of traffic path and its lateral clearance from traffic
hazards for safe movement of traffic
Classification
EL
✓Longitudinal Marking (LM) ✓Arrow Marking (AM)
PT
✓Transverse Marking (TM) ✓Directional Marking (DM)
N
✓Hazard Marking (HM) ✓Facility Marking (FM)
✓Block Marking (BM)
IITIIT
Kharagpur | Traffic
| Traffic Module
Engineering| AA
Module 80
Color
✓White: Widely used because of good visibility and good contrast
✓Yellow: Used in longitudinal marking where it is not permitted to cross
EL
the marking and also in parking restriction areas
PT
✓Blue: Used to indicate dedicated bus lanes and
N
other special markings which is not conventional
✓Green: Used to give priority to cyclists and

pedestrians to cross the road near intersection
IITIIT
Kharagpur | Traffic
| Traffic Module
Engineering| AA
Module 81
✓Red/Purple: Used in hazardous locations where different road users
sharing the road
EL
PT
N
IITIIT
Kharagpur | Traffic
| Traffic Module
Engineering| AA
Module 82
Different Scenarios for Road Markings
✓Normal Scenario: Adequate sight distance is available
✓Warning Scenario: Visibility is more than minimum visibility distance
EL
(MVD) but less than warning sight distance (Approaches to no-
overtaking scenario e.g. horizontal and vertical curves, intersections,
PT
etc.)
N
o MVD: Distance at which an object of 1.05 m above
the carriageway is seen by an observer
✓No-overtaking Scenario: When MVD is not available
IITIIT
Kharagpur | Traffic
| Traffic Module
Engineering| AA
Module 83
Centre Line Markings Under Different Scenarios
EL
PT
✓Normal vs Warning: Length and spacing is
different (a minimum of 7 warning line segments
N
before no-overtaking)
✓No-Overtaking: Continuous line and sometimes

yellow hatching may be provided when no crossing
is allowed
IITIIT
Kharagpur | Traffic
| Traffic Module
Engineering| AA
Module 84
Examples: Marking at intersections
✓Single stop line: Used
in traffic signal and
pedestrian crossings
EL
PT
STOP ✓ Double stop line:
N
Stop sign Used in junctions
controlled by stop
signs (Two
continuous lines)
IITIIT
Kharagpur | Traffic
| Traffic Module
Engineering| AA
Module 85
✓Give way sign: Used at
minor intersections not
controlled by traffic
signals, stop signs or
EL
police (Two broken
PT
lines)
N
Give way sign
IITIIT
Kharagpur | Traffic
| Traffic Module
Engineering| AA
Module 86
Summary
• Traffic engineers must adopt the standard
characteristics of vehicles for design and control
purposes
• Roadways are classified based on mobility and
EL
accessibility
PT
• Roadway markings, traffic signs, road delineators and
N
traffic signals are the four types of traffic control
devices
IITIIT
Kharagpur | Traffic
| Traffic Module
Engineering| AA
Module 87
THANK YOU
EL
PT
N
IITIIT
Kharagpur | Traffic
| Traffic Module
Engineering| AA
Module 88
Traffic Engineering
Module A
Characteristics
EL
Week 1: Lecture A.5
PT
Traffic Signs, Delineators and Signals
N
India

• Traffic engineers must adopt the standard
characteristics of vehicles for design and control
purposes
• Roadways are classified based on mobility and
EL
accessibility
PT
• Roadway markings, traffic signs, road delineators and
N
traffic signals are the four types of traffic control
devices
IITIIT
Kharagpur | Traffic
| Traffic Module
Engineering| AA
Module 90
Traffic Control Devices: Traffic Signs
• Traffic signs are devices to promote road safety
and efficiency by providing for the orderly
movement of all road users on roads
• Code: IRC:67-2012
EL
• Mainly divided into three categories-
PT
N
✓Regulatory Signs
✓Warning Signs
✓Informatory Signs
IITIIT
Kharagpur | Traffic
| Traffic Module
Engineering| AA
Module 91
Regulatory Signs
• Inform the road users about certain laws, regulations and prohibitions
• Enhance road safety and efficiency
EL
• Violation is a legal offense
PT
• Usually, circular in shape
N
• Exceptions are octagonal red ‘STOP’ sign and
triangular ‘GIVEWAY’ or ‘YIELD’ sign
IITIIT
Kharagpur | Traffic
| Traffic Module
Engineering| AA
Module 92
Classification
✓Stop Sign: Octagonal, red background

with white border, the word “STOP” in
white
EL
PT
✓Give Way Sign: Equilateral triangle with Stop Sign Give-Way Sign
N
apex downward, red border and white
background. “GIVE WAY” in black color
IITIIT
Kharagpur | Traffic
| Traffic Module
Engineering| AA
Module 93
✓ Prohibitory Signs: Circular shape with a red border, white background
and black symbol
EL
PT
Straight Prohibited or No Entry One-Way Signs
Vehicles Prohibited Horn Prohibited

N Cycle Prohibited
Pedestrian
Prohibited
in both Directions
IITIIT
Kharagpur | Traffic
| Traffic Module
Engineering| AA
Module 94
✓ No Parking and No Stopping Signs: Circular shape with a red border,
blue background and oblique red bar at 45° angle
o A definition plate is placed below the sign to
indicate the required details about the
EL
prohibition
PT
Days of the week No Parking No Stopping or Standing
N
Hours of the day
Distance
Exception (if any)
IITIIT
Kharagpur | Traffic
| Traffic Module
Engineering| AA
Module 95
✓ Speed Limit and Vehicle Control Signs: Circular with red border and
bearing black symbol and numeral on white background
EL
PT
Speed Limit Width Limit Height Limit
N
Length Limit Load Limit Axle Load Limit
IITIIT
Kharagpur | Traffic
| Traffic Module
Engineering| AA
Module 96
✓ Restriction End signs: Circular with white background and diagonal
band of black color at 45° angle sloping downward from right to left
EL
✓ Compulsory Direction Control Signs: Circular in
PT
shape with blue background and white border and
N
symbols in white
Turn Left Ahead or Turn Left/Right Sound horn

IITIIT
Kharagpur | Traffic
| Traffic Module
Engineering| AA
Module 97
Warning Signs
• Warn the road users about hazardous conditions exists on the roads
• Equilateral triangle with apex pointing upward, red border and black
EL
symbols on white background
PT
Distance from the point of hazard as per IRC
N Right/Left Hair Pin Bend

Right/Left Hand Curve
IITIIT
Kharagpur | Traffic
| Traffic Module
Engineering| AA
Module 98
Non-Urban Locations
Plain/Rolling Hilly Terrain

Terrain
NH & SH 360 m 90 m
MDR 230 m 60 m
EL
ODR 155 m 33 m
PT
VR 90 m 23 m
N
Urban Locations
✓ Located at about 50m from the point of hazard
IITIIT
Kharagpur | Traffic
| Traffic Module
Engineering| AA
Module 99
Different Warning Signs
EL
Cycle Crossing School Pedestrian Crossing Men at Work Side Road Left/Right
PT
Y-Intersection N
Start of Dual Staggered Intersection Cross Road
Carriageway
IITIIT
Kharagpur | Traffic
| Traffic Module
Engineering| AA
Module 100
Informatory Signs
• Guide the road users along their
routes, and inform them about the
destinations Place Identification
EL
Advance Direction/
Destination Sign Sign
Classification
PT
✓ Direction
N
and place
identification: Rectangular,
green background white letters
and arrows, white border Direction Sign
IITIIT
Kharagpur | Traffic
| Traffic Module
Engineering| AA
Module 101
✓ Facility information Signs: Rectangular, blue background, black
symbol in white square
EL
PT
Public Telephone Filling Station Hospital
N
Light Refreshment First Aid Post Eating Place
IITIIT
Kharagpur | Traffic
| Traffic Module
Engineering| AA
Module 102
✓Parking Signs: Blue background with the letter ‘P’ in white color;
Additional plate below sign to show direction/ category of vehicles for
parking
EL
PT
Parking This Side Parking Both Sides Scooter & Motor
N
Cycle Stand
Taxi Stand Auto-Rickshaw Stand Cycle Stand
IITIIT
Kharagpur | Traffic
| Traffic Module
Engineering| AA
Module 103
Traffic Control Devices: Delineators
• Device/treatment whose aim is to outline the roadway or a portion thereof
• To provide visual assistance to drivers about alignment of road ahead-
✓Especially at night
EL
✓Locations with changes in road geometry
PT
N
IITIIT
Kharagpur | Traffic
| Traffic Module
Engineering| AA
Module 104
✓At bad weather conditions like rain, fog or snow
• Reflectors on delineator: Better night time visibility

• Delineators are driving aids – NOT a substitute for warning signs, road
EL
markings
PT
N
IITIIT
Kharagpur | Traffic
| Traffic Module
Engineering| AA
Module 105
• Classified under the following heads
✓Roadway Indicators
✓Hazard Markers
EL
✓Object Markers
PT
Roadway Indicators
N
• To delineate the edges of roadway so as to guide
drivers about alignments ahead
IITIIT
Kharagpur | Traffic
| Traffic Module
Engineering| AA
Module 106
Hazardous Markers
• To define obstructions adjacent to carriageway
Object Markings
EL
• To indicate hazards and obstructions within vehicle Hazard Markers on a narrow
PT
bridge
flow path
N
IITIIT
Kharagpur | Traffic
| Traffic Module
Engineering| AA
Module 107
Traffic Control Devices: Signals
Traffic Signals
•A large number of crossing and
right turn conflicts can occur at
intersections as the same space
EL
is shared at the same time by all
PT
type of road users from all
N
directions
• To regulate these movements,

traffic signals are placed
IITIIT
Kharagpur | Traffic
| Traffic Module
Engineering| AA
Module 108
• Traffic signals mainly are of three types
✓Traffic Control Signals
✓Pedestrian Signals
✓Special Traffic Signals
EL
PT
Traffic Control Signals
N
• Different
type of traffic signals are used- Manually
operated, fixed time automatic and automatic traffic
actuated signals
IITIIT
Kharagpur | Traffic
| Traffic Module
Engineering| AA
Module 109
Pedestrian Signals
• Pedestrians signals are installed at intersections to enable the pedestrians to

cross the intersections safely
• Normally, pedestrian signals timings are interlinked with traffic signals
EL
• At certain mid-block locations where the pedestrians crossing demand is
PT
very high, pedestrian signals are placed
N
IITIIT
Kharagpur | Traffic
| Traffic Module
Engineering| AA
Module 110
Special Traffic Signals
• ‘Flashing beacons’ are called as Special Traffic Signals

• As for example, at flashing red signals, the drivers shall stop before entering
EL
the nearest crosswalk
PT
N
IITIIT
Kharagpur | Traffic
| Traffic Module
Engineering| AA
Module 111
Summary
• Traffic Signs: Regulatory, Warning, Informatory
• Delineators: Roadway markers, object markers,
hazard markers
• Traffic
EL
Signals: Traffic control signal, pedestrian
PT
control signal and special traffic signal
N
IITIIT
Kharagpur | Traffic
| Traffic Module
Engineering| AA
Module 112
THANK YOU
EL
PT
N
IITIIT
Kharagpur | Traffic
| Traffic Module
Engineering| AA
Module 113
References
• Roess, Roger P., Elena S. Prassas, and William R. McShane. Traffic
engineering. Pearson/Prentice Hall, 2019.
• Chakroborty, Partha, and Animesh Das. Principles of transportation
EL
engineering. PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd., 2017.
PT
• IRC:67-2012: Code of Practice for Road Signs
N
• IRC:35-2015: Code of Practice for Road Markings
IITIIT
Kharagpur | Traffic
| Traffic Module
Engineering| AA
Module 114

Study Material Week 01 TE-Module-A

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NPTEL Online Certification Course on

IIT Kharagpur | Traffic Engineering| Module A

IIT Kharagpur | Traffic Engineering| Module A

✓But, the main goal is the movement of people and

• In the context of traffic engineering, the focus is on person movements

• The efficient movement of goods is vital to the general economy of the

• Timely delivery of raw material and finished products can be achieved

• The principal goal of a traffic engineer is to provide a safe transportation

Road Accidents Road Accidents Injuries Road Accidents Deaths

• Each year about 3% to 5 % of the country’s

• Relate to self-evident desires of the travelers

• Balancing these objectives against each other and

✓Compatibility of transportation systems with physical environment-

makes the nearby land more accessible

• Although primary objective of a traffic engineer is to

and Components of Traffic System

IIT Kharagpur | Traffic Engineering| Module A

• Although primary objective of a traffic engineer is to

• Provides trip makers with choices for all kinds of trip

• It is important to make a transfer from transportation

• Traffic engineers are not involved in the structural design of transportation

• Most human characteristics follow normal distribution which is

• While this uniformity approach does not guarantee

• Non-uniform characteristics of different traffic

IIT Kharagpur | Traffic Engineering| Module A

• Non-uniform characteristics of different traffic engineering components

• Several critical characteristics of road users are quantifiable and can be

✓Hearing, Personality and Psychological Factors

✓Legend can be read only within this

✓10° to 12° around the line of sight

✓Color and shape can be recognized in Fairly Clear (10o to

• Information on field of vision is important while deciding the placement of

• Peripheral vision narrows as speed increases

✓ Once identification of the object or condition is sufficiently completed,

• PRT depends on the characteristics of the driver, type and complexity of

Situation Recommended PRT

Normal stop at a signal control 1.0s

Normal stop on a highway 2.5s

IIT Kharagpur | Traffic Engineering| Module A 58

• Expectancy: Significant impact on PRT

• Other factors like age, fatigue, consumption alcohol or drugs by the

• Mostof these factors cannot be addressed directly

✓Pedestrian Signals wherever necessary

• Gap acceptance behavior of

• The concept of visual acuity, field of vision,

IIT Kharagpur | Traffic Engineering| Module A

• The concept of visual acuity, field of vision,

✓Operating Characteristics (Braking, Acceleration )

• In highway safety and design, the most critical performance

• A driver, albeit fictitious, who has the characteristics

• General Characteristics of Design Driver:

✓ 6/7.5 visual acuity

✓Critical gap value between 4 and 7.5 seconds

• Provides 100 % through movement or mobility

• Lower level of mobility than arterial roads

• An intermediate facility between arterials and local roads

• Regulatory aspects of traffic control must be enforced

✓White: Widely used because of good visibility and good contrast

✓Yellow: Used in longitudinal marking where it is not permitted to cross

✓Green: Used to give priority to cyclists and

✓Normal Scenario: Adequate sight distance is available

✓Warning Scenario: Visibility is more than minimum visibility distance

✓No-overtaking Scenario: When MVD is not available