Qatar University Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering

Traffic Safety Analysis, CVEN 662 Spring 2018

Homework #2- Sight Distance

Student (s) Name:………………………...…

ID Number :…………………………...

Submission Deadline is April 2nd, 2018.

Q.1: A temporary diversion has been constructed on a highway of +4% grade due to major
repairs that are being undertaken on a bridge. The maximum speed allowed on the diversion is 30
km/hr. Determine the minimum distance from the diversion that a road sign should be
located informing drivers of the temporary change on the highway. Assume that a driver can
read a road sign within his or her area of vision at a distance of 15 m for each inch (2.5 cm) of
letter height. Speed limit on highway = 80 km/h
Letter height of road sign = 4 inches (10 cm)
Perception-reaction time = 2.5 sec

Q.2: Repeat problem 1 with highway of -3.5% downgrade. Using same assumptions in Q.1,
determine the minimum distance from the diversion that a road sign should be located
informing drivers of the temporary change on the highway.

Q.3: An elevated expressway goes through an urban area, and crosses a local street as shown in
Figure 3.9. The partial cloverleaf exit ramp is on a 2% downgrade and all vehicles leaving the
expressway must stop at the intersection with the local street. Determine length of the ramp for
the following conditions:
85% operation speed on expressway = 100 km/h
Distance between exit sign and exit ramp = 80 m
Letter height of road sign = 3” (7.5 cm)
Perception-reaction time = 2.5 sec
Expressway grade = 0%
Assume that a driver can read a road sign within his
or her area of vision at a distance of 15 m for each
inch of letter height, and the driver sees the stop sign
immediately on entering the ramp.

Q.4: Following the same assumptions in Q.3, due to geometric limitation, if the exit ramp length
can only be 65 m, can drivers still stop before the intersection at the end of the exit ramp. If not
what countermeasures you propose to make? and how to implement it?