SIGHT DISTANCES

(Vertical Curves)
Stopping Sight Distance
- It is the distance required to see an object 150 mm high on the
roadway
- It is the total distance traveled during three times intervals:
a. The time for the driver to perceive the hazard
b. The time to react
c. The time to stop the vehicle after the brakes are applied.
*Based on the National Safety Council, average driver reaction
time is ¾ seconds.
• The stopping sight distance s
depends on the reaction of the
driver (including both perception
time and the time required to react
physically) and the braking distance
of the vehicle. That is,
s = dr +db
Where:
dr = the distance traveled during the
driver’s reaction time
db = the braking distance
The distance traveled during the reaction time of the
driver is just the speed of the vehicle times the reaction
time, or
dr = vtr
where v = design speed
tr = driver’s reaction time
(including perception time)
Braking distance can be computed by the formula,
𝒗𝟐
db =
𝟐𝒈 (𝒇±𝑮)
where db = braking distance
g = acceleration of gravity
f = coefficient of friction between
tires and pavement
G = average grade, dimensionless ratio (m/m)
 Conditions S.I. Units English Units
(h1 & h2 are substituted already)

Summit vertical parabolic curve S<L 𝐴𝑠2 𝐴𝑠2

a. Stopping sight distance L= L=
S.I English 200( ℎ1+ ℎ2)2 1400
h1=1.14 m h1 = 3.75 ft
h2=0.15 m h2 = 6 in

S>L 200( ℎ1+ ℎ2)2 1400

L = 2𝑠 − L = 2𝑠 −
𝐴 𝐴
 Conditions S.I. Units English Units
(h1 & h2 are substituted already)
Summit vertical parabolic curve S<L 𝐴𝑠 2 𝐴𝑠 2
L= L=
a. Stopping sight distance 200( ℎ1+ ℎ2)2 1400
S.I English
S>L 200( ℎ1+ ℎ2)2 1400
h1=1.14 m h1 = 3.75 ft L = 2𝑠 − L = 2𝑠 −
𝐴 𝐴
h2=0.15 m h2 = 6 in

Sample Problems:
1. Determine the minimum length of a summit parabolic vertical curve
needed to join a 2% grade with a -3% grade on a section of
highway with an 80.49 kph design speed. Assume f = 0.30 and
perception reaction time of 2.5 s.
s = 135.51 m
L = 216.87 m
2. A vertical summit curve as tangent grades of 3% and -2%. Compute
the length of curve for a stopping sight distance of 120 m.
L = 170.05
 Passing Sight Distance (for summit parabolic
vertical curve)
- It is the distance required to see an oncoming vehicle of a certain
minimum size. The normally concerns of these are only on two-way
highway.
b. Passing sight distance S<L 𝐴𝑠2 𝐴𝑠2
S.I. English L= L=
h1&h2 = 1.14 m h1&h2 = 3.75 ft 200( ℎ1+ ℎ2)2 3000

S>L 200( ℎ1+ ℎ2)2 3000

L = 2𝑠 − L = 2𝑠 −
𝐴 𝐴
b. Passing sight distance S<L 𝐴𝑠 2 𝐴𝑠 2
S.I. English L= L=
200( ℎ1+ ℎ2)2 3000
h1&h2 = 1.14 m h1&h2 = 3.75 ft
S>L 200( ℎ1+ ℎ2)2 3000
L = 2𝑠 − L = 2𝑠 −
𝐴 𝐴

Sample Problems:
1. A vertical summit curve has tangent grades of 2.5% and -1.5%.
Compute the passing sight distance if the length of curve is 182 m.
s = 205 m
2. A vertical summit curve has a length of 198 m long and has tangent
grades of +3% and -2%. Compute the length of passing sight
distance.
s = 190.29 m
 Sight Distance – is the length of roadway
ahead visible to the driver.
Vertical sag parabolic curve S<L 𝐴𝑠 2 𝐴𝑠 2
(Sight distance ONLY) L= L=
122+3.5𝑠 400+3.5𝑠
𝑉2𝐴 S>L 122+3.5𝑠 400+3.5𝑠
L= L = in feet L= 2𝑠 − L= 2𝑠 −
46.50 𝐴 𝐴
A =/g1/+/g2/ V = max. velocity
of car moving in a
vertical curve,
in mph
Sample Problems:
1. A vertical sag parabolic curve has a length of 141 m with tangent
grades of -1.5% and 2.5%. Compute the length of the sight distance.
s = 152.4 m
2. Compute the maximum velocity of a car that could pass through a
vertical sag curve having tangent grades of -1.5% and 3.5%, if its has
a sight distance of 182.93m.
V = 81.83 mph
 Summary of formulas
Conditions S.I. Units English Units
(h1 & h2 are substituted already)
Summit vertical parabolic curve S<L 𝐴𝑠 2 𝐴𝑠 2
a. Stopping sight distance L= L=
200( ℎ1+ ℎ2)2 1400
S.I English
S>L 200( ℎ1+ ℎ2)2 1400
h1=1.14 m h1 = 3.75 ft L = 2𝑠 − L = 2𝑠 −
h2=0.15 m h2 = 6 in 𝐴 𝐴

b. Passing sight distance S<L 𝐴𝑠 2 𝐴𝑠 2

S.I. English L= L=
200( ℎ1+ ℎ2)2 3000
h1&h2 = 1.14 m h1&h2 = 3.75 ft
S>L 200( ℎ1+ ℎ2)2 3000
L = 2𝑠 − L = 2𝑠 −
𝐴 𝐴
Vertical sag parabolic curve S<L 𝐴𝑠 2 𝐴𝑠 2
(Sight distance ONLY) L= L=
122+3.5𝑠 400+3.5𝑠
𝑉2𝐴 S>L 122+3.5𝑠 400+3.5𝑠
L= L = in feet L= 2𝑠 − L= 2𝑠 −
46.50 𝐴 𝐴
A =/g1/+/g2/ V = max. velocity
of car moving in a
vertical curve,
in mph