Speed and Delay Studies

Ashok Kumar
Assistant Professor
 Speed Studies

Speed studies are useful for the following

purposes:
a)For planning traffic control measures such
as establishing speed zones, traffic
signals, regulatory and information signs
non-passing zones, warning zones etc
b)To determine the speed trend

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 Speed Studies

c) To study the accidents behavior i.e. (i)

Relation of accident with speed
(ii) To locate high accident location
(iii) To check the effectiveness of
remedial measures adopted
d) To determine the capacity of the road
e) It is useful in the geometric design of the
road
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 Speed Studies

Definitions:-
i. Journey Speed or Travel Speed It is the
effective speed of a vehicle between two
points.

Journey speed= Distance

Total journey time(including delays)

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 Speed Studies

Definitions:-
i. Running Speed It is the average speed
maintained by a vehicle over a given
course while the vehicle is in motion.

Running speed= Length of course

Running time

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 Speed Studies

Definitions:-
i. Spot Speed It is the instantaneous speed of
a vehicle at a specified location. It is
affected by physical features of the road
such as pavement width, curve, sight
distance, gradient, pavement roughness,
road side development, intersections, traffic
conditions, driver’s physical and mental
condition, vehicle condition etc. 6
 Speed Studies

Time-mean-speed It is the average of the

speed measurement at one point in space
over a period of the time. It is the average
of a number of spot-speed measurements.
Space mean Speed It is the average of
the speed measurement at an instant of
time over a space.

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 Use of Speed, Journey Time &
Delay Studies

Spot speed
• Geometric Design of roads
• Regulation & control of traffic operations
• For analyzing the cause of accidents
• For before and after studies of road
improvement
• Finding the problems of congestion.
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 Use of Speed, Journey Time &
Delay Studies

Journey Speeds and delays

 Fixing the cost of journey
 Useful in evaluation of congestion, capacity,
level of service and need for improvement.
 Helps in trip assessment.
 Helps in installation of traffic control devices.

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Methods of measuring Spot Speeds

1. Time taken by a vehicle to cover known

distance
a) Long Base
- Direct Timing procedure
- Enoscope
- Pressure contact tubes
b) Short Base
2. Radar Speedometer
3. Photographic method 10
 Speed Studies

Location and time of Speed Study

i. Straight, level and open sections
ii. At all high accident frequency roads
iii. At all points where traffic signals and
stop signs are to be installed etc.
Time. Generally one hour study at
different times is sufficient. Usually
timing should be so chosen, which is a
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 Speed Studies

peak hour for the traffic as

i. One hour 9 to 12 A.M.
ii. 3 P.M. to 6 P.M.
iii. 6 P.M. to 10 P.M.

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 Spot Speed Studies

Direct Timing Procedure Method

From the known distance and the
measured time intervals speeds are
calculated.

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 Spot Speed Studies

Spot Speed by enoscope

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 Spot Speed Studies

• Road Detectors
– Pneumatic road tubes
 Spot Speed Studies

• Road Detectors
– Inductive loop
Road Tubes for Collection of Spot Speed

Recorder
 Spot Speed Studies

Radar Speed Meters

-Doppler principle

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Radar Gun Spot Speed Study

North

Main Street

Target Vehicle

Observer
Tree used to conceal With Radar
observer
Spot Speed Studies

• Photographic & Video Camera method

 Speed Studies

Presentation of Spot Speed data

Average speed of vehicles
Cumulative speed of vehicle
Modal Average

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Speed Study-Modal Average

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Speed Cumulative speed distribution

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