Lec 4, Ch 3, pp.

43-58 Characteristics
of the User and the Vehicle
(Objectives)
Know four critical components of the traffic
system
Know there is considerable variability in the
component characteristics – Traffic
engineering is not an exact science
Know what user characteristics are critical for
driving
Know static and kinematic characteristics of
vehicles affect the design of roads
What we cover in this lecture…
Four components affecting the traffic system
Variability in the components
The human response process
Perception-reaction process
Pedestrian characteristics
Static characteristics of vehicles affecting
road design
Kinematic characteristics – Acceleration
capability
Four components affecting the traffic
system

Drivers Pedestrians

Vehicles Roads

General Environment Control Devices

Variability among the users
Variability among the drivers is the most concerned
one
Average values miss 50% of the driver population 
the 85th percentile often used (meaning that at least
85% of the user population must be safely covered)

85%
Cumulative
percentage

Examples:
Speed
• Speed limit = Use the 85th percentile speed of the sampled speeds
• Pedestrian walking speed = Use the 15th percentile speed of the
sampled pedestrian walking speeds (Can you tell why the 15th
percentile is used?)
 The human response process

Ability to see: Static visual acuity

Dynamic visual acuity

Depth perception
Glare vision & recovery
Color vision
Peripheral vision (120-180 deg)

Clear vision Fairly clear (10-12 deg)

cone
(3-5 deg)
 Perception-Reaction Process
PRT = Perception + Reaction
= (Detection + Identification + Decision making) +
(Time needed to initiate the physical response)

PIER = Perception + Identification +

Emotion + Reaction (or volition)

PIER = f (Complexity of the task,

Level of expectancy,
Variability of the drivers)
 PIER Distance
Reaction Dist. (ft or meter) = Speed (ft/sec or m/sec)*
PRT (sec)

How far does the car travel during the

perception-reaction process?  Affects sight
distance requirement, sign placement, signal
timing, etc.

Example 3.1 (modified): Is this frog in crisis?

65 mph 190 ft away
PIEV = 2.5 sec
Speed = 65 mph = 65 x (5280 ft/3600sec) = 95.55 ft/sec
Distance traveled during PIEV = 95.55*2.5 = 238.9 ft> 190 ft
 Pedestrian characteristics
Affects the design
of pedestrian
facilities and
pedestrian control
devices
(pedestrian signal
and yellow-all red
interval)
Walking seed most
critical – Variability
exists
4ft/sec2 is used typically.
Vehicle characteristics - Static
Size: Width, Length, Height, Overhang,
Wheelbase  Affect lane width, vertical
space under a bridge, tunnel, etc., and
Turning characteristics (off-tracking)
Weight  Affect pavement design

Max allowable truck size and weight

See page 48 for specific values
More discussion in CE561
Off-Tracking
Problem

Fig. 3-2
 Acceleration Capability
Acceleration characteristics: Affect 
 Laying out passing zones
 Freeway acceleration lanes
 Intersection sight distance
Maximum Acceleration Rate

Acceleration capability = 10
8
f (Speed of vehicle) ft/sec2 6
4
Usually maximum 2
0
acceleration rate decreases 20-30 30-40 40-50 50-60
as speed goes up. Speed group (mph)

25 lb/hp 30 lb/hp 35 lb/hp

Derivation of acceleration
related formulas

Open page 50.

Use the textbook

Constant acceleration case 

you learned it in physics. (eq.
3.4, 3.5, and 3.6)