HIGHWAY & TRAFFIC ENGINEERING

ECG564
OPEN-ENDED LAB REPORT

TITLE OF EXPERIMENT : SPOT SPEED STUDY

DATE OF EXPERIMENT : 6 April 2023
GROUP : 6A5A (Group 1)
GROUP MEMBERS 1. SAFI UMMAIYAH BINTI AHMAD FATHANI
(2020462404)
2. SITI AISYAH BINTI AMIR ABDUL (2020834378)
3. NURSORFINA BINTI ISMAIL (2020496112)
4. SHARON DEFFENIE CHARLES (2020830864)
5. NURUL WAJIHAH BINTI MUSTAFA (2020897244)

LECTURER : TS. DR. RUSDI BIN RUSLI

LEVEL OF OPENESS : 1

MARKS COMMENTS
INTRODUCTION
BASIC CONCEPTS
METHODOLOGY
RESULTS&ANALYSIS 1 2 3 4 5
DISCUSSION 1 2 3 4 5
CONCLUSION 1 2 3 4 5

TOTAL MARKS
INTRODUCTION

Level 1 laboratory activity refers to condition where the problem and ways & means
are guided and given to the students. However, the answers to the assignment are left to the
students to solve using the group creativity and innovativeness. The activity is hope to slowly
introduce and inculcate independent learning amongst students and prepare them for a much
harder task of open ended laboratory activities. In this laboratory activity, students are required
to conduct a spot speed study (using radar gun & manual determination), by recording the
speeds of sample of vehicles at a specified location in order to estimate the distribution of
speeds of vehicles. Students are encouraged to develop their critical analysis skills by analyzing
and presenting the experimental results appropriately.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the test are:

i. To establish the speed distribution of a traffic stream at a specific site or called as

basic speed data.

ii. To determine vehicle speed percentiles via speed trend analysis, which are useful in
speed related decision making.

THEORETICAL BACKGROUND

Spot speeds are the vehicle speeds taken at a specified point along the roadway and the
average of such speeds is referred to as time mean speed. A spot study is carried out by
recording the speeds sample of vehicles at specified location in order to estimate the
distribution of speed of vehicles. Spot speed data have a number of safety applications,
including determine speed trends by systematic continuous speed studies, the measurement of
traffic control devices’ or traffic programs’ effectiveness, the evaluation of speeding problems,
assessing speed as a causal factor to crashes, investigate existing parameters in respect to traffic
operation and control like speed limit, speed zones and the limits of no-passing zones, establish
and/or evaluate the roadway’s geometric design for example sight distance elements and so
forth.

Depending on the use of data, the observer must consider whether to collect speeds of
all vehicles, including platooned vehicles or only the speeds of unimpeded vehicles. It is
impossible to obtain a radar measurement for every vehicle under heavy traffic conditions. One
may collect all speeds during the peak period for peak flow analysis whereas the speed of
unimpeded vehicle would be collected for assessing general speed trends or for setting speed
limits or assessing the impact of speed zone signing, thereby off-peak measurement (free-
flowing traffic) are more appropriate.

Study duration of one hour or a sample size of at least 100 vehicles. The radar gun is
position according to procedure specified in the user manual.

PROBLEM STATEMENT

Over speeding is one of the major causes of road accidents in Malaysia. Speed limits
are implemented to prevent over speeding of vehicles. To determine whether the drivers of
vehicles comply with the speed limit, spot speed studies are carried out to determine the speed
of vehicles operating on the road.
3.1 PROCEDURE

There are two (2) methods of conducting the spot speed study, radar gun (automatic) and
stopwatch method (manual). The stopwatch method is used to successfully complete a spot
speed study using a small sample size taken over a relatively short period of time. The
stopwatch method is a quick and in expensive method for collecting speed data.

i. The procedure for spot speed study using radar gun are as follows:

a) Necessary preparations are performed such as sufficient pens or pencils, radar meter spot
speed study data forms and clipboards, radar speed meters are in good condition, read
instructions and procedure for the used radar gun, obtain backup battery, safety vests and
others.

b) Study location is decided, and the selected site is a straight and level road section that
represents different traffic conditions.

c) Enumerators are arrived 30 minutes earlier at site to familiarize (do visual appraisal survey)
with it prior to select strategic location, distribute the equipment, fill in the general information
of the spot speed data recording forms that comprise the observer’s name, time and date of
study, name of site, posted speed limit and weather condition and begin at the planned time.

d) The layout of the study area is sketched with the description of chosen reference points,
position of observation, number of lanes and road class.

e) The enumerators, the radar unit and the station for speed data collection are inconspicuous
where possible so that vehicular speeds are significantly not affected by the data collection
activities.

f) The samples are randomly selected, for example the observer is recorded a speed reading for
every third vehicle or every fifth vehicle.

g) The radar meter is directed a line with oncoming traffic as possible, meaning to make it as
close to the roadway as possible (an exception when the vehicles selected and radar unit tends
to affect vehicle speeds considerably).

h) The vehicle speeds area observed for duration of one-hour study or 100 samples.
ii. The procedure for spot speed study (manual) using stopwatch are as follows:

a) Necessary preparations are performed such as sufficient pens or pencils, stopwatch (manual)
spot speed study data forms and clipboards, stopwatch, safety vests and others.

b) Study location is decided, and the selected site is a straight and level road section that
represents different traffic conditions.

c) Enumerators are arrived 30 minutes earlier at site to familiarize (do visual appraisal survey)
with it prior to select strategic location, distribute the equipment, fill in the general information
of the spot speed data recording forms that comprise the observer’s name, time and date of
study, name of site, posted speed limit and weather condition and begin at the planned time.

d) The layout of the study area is sketched with the description of chosen reference points,
position of observation, number of lanes and road class.

e) Two (2) reference points are selected and labelled as Start and End point with a distance of
50 metre apart (less than 100 metre for spot speed).

f) Station two (2) observers at Start and End point.

g) A sign is given by the observer at starting point to the observer at end point to record the
vehicle’s time travel from start to end point (Make sure both observers are use the same
vehicle’s body reference point).

h) The plate registration number and vehicle classification of selected vehicle are recorded by
the other observer (Start or/and End point).

i) The speed of vehicles are determined by using speed formula, speed = distance/time (km/hr).
Result and data analysis
Sheet No. :1
MANUAL METHOD (STOPWATCH)
Observer : All members Date : 6 April 2023
Location : Melati Parking in UiTM Day : Thursday
Shah Alam
Start time : 9.00 am End time : 10.00 am
Weather : Sunny No. Lanes :1
VEHICLE CLASSIFICATION

Types of vehicles Symbol

Car / Small van / 4-Wheel Drive / Utility Vehicle C
Lorry (2 axies) / Big Van L2 / V
Big Lorry / Trailer / Heavy Vehicle (> 3 axies) L3
Bus B
Motorcycle MC

Distance : 54 meters

No Vehicle Plate Registration Vehicle Classification Time Travel (secs) Speed

1 WVK4232 C 5.18 10.42
2 VEE552 C 5.07 10.65
3 NCW7342 C 7.43 7.27
4 WWS7515 C 4.41 12.24
5 CEJ780 C 3.92 13.78
6 KEH5000 B 5.46 9.89
7 BLIA3815 B 5.95 9.08
8 WC6404S C 4.71 11.46
9 PGD6581 C 4.18 12.92
10 BPD5790 C 5.04 10.71
11 BNY7957 C 6.13 8.81
12 SAA1991 C 6.39 8.45
13 RL5188 C 4.28 12.62
14 W072T C 4.41 12.24
15 WC2339G C 4.89 11.04
16 BJW3418 C 3.96 13.64
17 BQD5052 B 5.07 10.65
18 WUE3679 C 4.35 12.41
19 KCN11 C 4.41 12.24
20 BNX4969 C 5.09 10.61
21 WC7698 C 5.51 9.80
22 VB61998 C 4.02 13.43
23 SAA1991 C 6.26 8.63
24 WYM4155 L2 7.04 7.67
25 WHW1209 C 4.54 11.89
26 VJX5212 C 4.95 10.91
27 JTQ8773 C 4.52 11.95
28 VBY4055 C 5.72 9.44
29 VFC5742 C 5.25 10.29
30 WA4173G C 5.96 9.06
31 VJB4083 C 5.52 9.78
32 JTH841 C 5.45 9.91
33 WUW7070 C 5.28 10.23
34 KCL5822 C 4.34 12.44
35 BQT3692 C 4.26 12.68
36 VFU3754 B 4.92 10.98
37 DAN1188 C 5.16 10.47
38 BMH2905 C 3.98 13.57
39 BNG9770 C 4.68 11.54
40 JTW1070 C 3.80 14.21
41 JHG8774 C 5.74 9.41
42 RRG2807 C 4.44 12.16
43 AKE6968 C 4.53 11.92
44 WB3416G C 4.92 10.98
45 AMP1468 C 5.65 9.56
46 VJX5128 C 4.78 11.30
47 VCY7311 C 5.18 10.42
48 JTW1070 C 4.40 12.27
49 JVX1062 C 5.60 9.64
50 BQU62 C 5.52 9.78
51 BGT946 C 4.83 11.18
52 NDA9791 C 4.65 11.61
53 AKV6960 C 6.76 7.99
54 BLQ4242 C 5.33 10.13
55 WWT6772 C 5.19 10.40
56 VKF5993 C 4.77 11.32
57 SYJ7013 C 4.53 11.92
58 WRQ709 C 4.98 10.84
59 VEAH4550 C 5.45 9.91
60 WRD6374 C 5.37 10.06
61 TCK1495 C 4.81 11.23
62 VDR4292 C 4.95 10.91
63 KFC2189 C 4.04 13.37
64 RAD7205 C 5.66 9.54
65 WC9266R C 4.61 11.71
66 ALB6579 C 5.03 10.74
67 WA3170A C 4.78 11.30
68 WCN4390 C 5.22 10.34
69 AFP1264 C 5.49 9.84
70 FA7040 C 5.51 9.80
71 BRF9109 C 3.33 16.22
72 JRL7797 C 6.07 8.90
73 CDV272 C 3.64 14.84
74 AMG1438 C 5.14 10.51
75 WA47542 L2 4.66 11.59
76 NDD2101 C 3.84 14.06
77 JRR2105 C 5.87 9.20
78 AKA5226 C 5.14 10.51
79 VAG688 C 5.32 10.15
80 VDR444 C 6.12 8.82
81 VCV4551 C 7.00 7.71
82 VH5765 C 4.55 11.87
83 WTG2411 C 5.89 9.17
84 WD5427A C 6.02 8.97
85 BPD2399 C 5.84 9.25
86 WB5993B C 4.28 12.62
87 BLF3433 C 7.80 6.92
88 VKC9069 B 5.40 10.00
89 VFG5076 C 4.58 11.79
90 BMQ2565 C 8.19 6.59
91 VGA5169 C 6.32 8.54
92 JGD2040 C 5.69 9.49
93 BLA3815 B 4.59 11.76
94 JTU5126 C 5.69 9.49
95 TBR153 C 6.87 7.86
96 WND4533 C 4.63 11.66
97 BKC8900 C 4.29 12.59
98 BMB2779 B 5.43 9.94
99 WTM447 C 4.78 11.30
100 BGR5529 C 5.39 10.02
Sheet No. :2
AUTOMATIC METHOD (RADAR/LASER GUN)
Observer : All members Date : 6 April 2023
Location : Melati Parking in UiTM Day : Thursday
Shah Alam
Start time : 9.00 am End time : 10.00 am
Weather : Sunny No. Lanes :1
VEHICLE CLASSIFICATION

Types of vehicles Symbol

Car / Small van / 4-Wheel Drive / Utility Vehicle C
Lorry (2 axies) / Big Van L2 / V
Big Lorry / Trailer / Heavy Vehicle (> 3 axies) L3
Bus B
Motorcycle MC

No Speed Class No Speed Class

1 24 B 18 38 C
2 40 C 19 33 B
3 40 C 20 31 C
4 30 C 21 22 C
5 29 C 22 33 B
6 27 B 23 39 C
7 22 C 24 34 B
8 30 C 25 39 C
9 17 C 26 16 C
10 27 B 27 39 C
11 30 B 28 16 B
12 35 C 29 17 C
13 32 C 30 30 C
14 34 C 31 40 C
15 34 C 32 39 C
16 20 C 33 37 C
17 39 C 34 29 C
No Speed Class No Speed Class
35 39 C 73 32 C
36 31 B 74 35 C
37 27 C 75 32 C
38 35 C 76 31 C
39 36 C 77 37 C
40 30 C 78 26 C
41 34 C 79 34 C
42 28 C 80 27 C
43 25 B 81 29 C
44 26 C 82 31 C
45 37 C 83 37 C
46 23 C 84 30 C
47 25 L2 85 27 C
48 29 C 86 32 C
49 31 C 87 30 C
50 33 C 88 36 C
51 29 C 89 40 C
52 28 C 90 33 C
53 36 C 91 35 C
54 29 C 92 31 C
55 25 C 93 32 C
56 31 C 94 33 C
57 32 C 95 41 C
58 29 C 96 36 C
59 28 C 97 28 C
60 31 C 98 32 C
61 32 C 99 36 C
62 39 C 100 38 C
63 21 C
64 42 C
65 33 C
66 41 C
67 44 C
68 44 C
69 29 C
70 33 C
71 33 C
72 34 C
 AUTOMATIC METHOD (RADAR/LASER GUN)

Speed Mean Frequency, Percentage Cumulative fv v2 fv2

Group Speed, v f of Frequency
Frequency
(%)
15-19 17 3 3 3 51 289 867
20-24 22 6 6 9 132 484 2904
25-29 27 23 23 32 621 729 16767
30-34 32 38 38 70 1216 1024 38912
35-39 37 21 21 91 777 1369 28749
40-44 42 9 9 100 378 1764 15876
TOTAL 100 100 3175 65163
Table 1.0: A sample of Data Speed

FREQUENCY HISTOGRAM
40

35

30

25
Frequency, f

20

15

10

0
15-19 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44

Vehicle speed
Vehicle (km/h)
Speed (km/h)

Graph 1.0: Frequency histogram graph

 FREQUENCY DISTRIBUTION CURVE
40
Percentage of Frequency (%)

35

30

25

20

15

10

0
15 20 25 30 35 40 45

Mean Speed, v (km/h)

Graph 2.0: Frequency Distribution Curve

CUMULATIVE FREQUENCY DISTRIBUTION

120

100
Cumulative Frequency

80

60

40

20

0
15 20 25 30 35 40 45

Mean Speed, v (km/h)

Graph 3.0: Frequency Distribution Curve

From cumulative Frequency Distribution,
Spot speed at:
98th percentile = 39 km/h
85th percentile = 35 km/h
15th percentile = 24 km/h
To sum up, Design speed = 40 km/h (P98)
Speed limit = 30 or 40 km/h (P85)
Disturbance speed = 25 km/h (P15)

a. Arithmetic mean speed

x̄ = Σfv/n
3175
=
100
= 31.75
b. Median Speed
100
− 12
𝐿 = 30 + ( 2 ) (4)
38

= 34 𝑘𝑚/ℎ
c. Modal Speed

From frequency histogram, modal speed is 30-34 km/h with the number of frequencies of
38 vehicles.

d. Standard deviation
Σf𝑣 2
𝑆=√
𝑁−1

65163
𝑆=√
100 − 1
= ±25.66
 e. Standard Error
𝑆
𝐷=
𝑁
25.66
=
100
= 0.2566
Adequacy of data for 95% confident significant level

95% mean ±1.96 D

= 31.75 ± 1.96(0.2566)

= 31.2471 𝑡𝑜 32.2529
 MANUAL METHOD (STOPWATCH)

Speed Mean Frequency, Percentage Cumulative fv v2 fv2

Group Speed, v f of Frequency
Frequency
(%)
5-9 7 35 35 35 245 49 1715
10-14 12 61 61 96 732 144 8784
15-19 17 4 4 100 68 289 1156
TOTAL 100 100 1045 11655
Table 2.0: A sample of Data Speed

FREQUENCY HISTOGRAM
70
60
50
40
30
Frequency, f

20
10
0
5-9 10-14 15-19

Vehicle Speed (km/h)

 Graph 4.0: Frequency histogram graph

FREQUENCY DISTRIBUTION CURVE

70
Percentage of Frequency (%)

60

50

40

30

20

10

0
5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19

Mean Speed, v (km/h)

Graph 5.0: Frequency Distribution Curve

CUMULATIVE FREQUENCY DISTRIBUTION

110
Cumulative Frequency

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30
5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19

Mean Speed, v (km/h)

Graph 6.0: Frequency Distribution Curve

From cumulative Frequency Distribution,
Spot speed at:
98th percentile = 12.5 km/h
85th percentile = 10.5 km/h
15th percentile = 0 km/h
To sum up, Design speed = 15 km/h (P98)
Speed limit = 10 or 15 km/h (P85)
Disturbance speed = 0 km/h (P15)

a. Arithmetic mean speed

x̄ = Σfv/n
1045
=
100
= 10.45
b. Median Speed
100
−2
𝐿 = 10 + ( 2 ) (4)
61

= 13.15 𝑘𝑚/ℎ
c. Modal Speed

From frequency histogram, modal speed is 10-14 km/h with the number of frequencies of
61 vehicles.

d. Standard deviation
Σf𝑣 2
𝑆=√
𝑁−1

11655
𝑆=√
100 − 1
= ±10.85
 e. Standard Error
𝑆
𝐷=
𝑁
10.85
=
100
= 0.1085
Adequacy of data for 95% confident significant level

95% mean ±1.96 D

= 10.45 ± 1.96(0.1085)

= 10.2373 𝑡𝑜 10.6627
DISCUSSION
For this laboratory activity, students conducted a spot speed study to estimate the distribution
of speeds of vehicles and to determine the vehicles speed percentiles with two different methods which
are by radar gun and manual determination using stopwatch. The road in front of Engine Square (UiTM
Shah Alam) was chosen as our location of this study.
From the first method which is by using a radar gun, the arithmetic mean speed is 31.75 km/hr.
Then, the median speed is 35 km/hr. The modal speed is 30-34 km/hr which obtained from the frequency
histogram. The standard deviation is 25.66 km/hr and the standard error is 0.2566. From the cumulative
frequency distribution graph, the design speed which is also the 98th percentile speed is 40 km/hr.
furthermore, the speed limit which is also the 85th percentile speed is 30 or 40 km/hr. The disturbance
speed which is also the 15th percentile speed is 25 km/hr.
Next, the second method (manual determination using stopwatch) was conducted with a
distance of 54 m. The average speed is taken from the time taken for a vehicle to pas from point A to
point B. Then, the arithmetic mean speed is 10.45 km/hr. The modal speed is 10-14 km/hr which
obtained from the frequency histogram. The standard deviation is 10.85 km/hr and the standard error is
0.1085. From the cumulative frequency distribution graph, the design speed (P98) is 15 km/hr.
furthermore, the speed limit (P85) is 10 or 15 km/hr. The disturbance speed (P15) is 0 km/hr.
The middle traffic volume speed in the distribution and the whole volume which arrange in
ascending order known as median speed. Modal speed, the most frequently occurring speed value in
the distribution. The maximum safe speed that can be maintained over a specified section of the road
when traffic and favourable road conditions in daytime called the design speed. Other than that, 85 th
percentile speed is when it does not exceed by 85% of the drivers and is usually applied to the spot
speed distribution to determine the speed limit of that particular road. The value for the spot speed to
be used for the design speed in a geometric design is 98th percentile. The value of spot speed which
indicates slowness or when approaching congestion situation is 15th percentile.
The spot speed activity has been affected by many factors. One of them was driver factor, where
some drivers will slow down their vehicles when passing through the road. Other than that, the road
geometric. This is because our group has chosen the downhill road for this study and most of the driver
will slow down when going down the road for their safety. Traffic volume may affect this activity too.
This is because increasing in vehicles number will cause traffic congestion and slower down the vehicle
speed.
CONCLUSION

Spot speed study is conducted to assess the speed of vehicles travelling on the road
since the purpose of the experiment is to find out if drivers of vehicles adhere to the speed limit.
One hundred of vehicles were used in the study. As a result, the experiment was carried out
and data was gathered in a precise location next to Melati carpark at UiTM Shah Alam. This
experiment’s goals are to calculate vehicle speed percentiles using speed trend analysis.
Arithmetic mean speed, median speed, modal speed, standard deviation, standard error and
percentile values were determined using the study’s data as well as observations and
calculations. These figures can be found in the data reported in Table 1 and the graphs in
Figures 1, 2 and 3.

In order to tabulate the data for the automatic method (laser gun) and the manual method
(stopwatch), it was divided into three graphs: a frequency histogram graph, percentage
frequency of speed graph and a cumulative frequency of speed graph. For automatic method,
the median speed is 34 km/h and the arithmetic mean speed is 31.75. while the obtained
standard deviation and standard error are 25.66 and 0.2566, respectively. According to the
graph in Graph 3, the design speed, P98, is 39 km/h, the speed limit, P85, is 35 km/h and the
disturbance speed, P15, is 24 km/h. The range of data needed to reach a 95% confidence level
of significance is from 31.2471 to 32.2529. While for the manual method, the median speed is
13.15 km/h and the arithmetic mean speed is 10.45. While the obtained standard deviation and
standard error are 10.85 and 0.1085, respectively. According to the graph in Graph 3, the design
speed, P98, is 12.5 km/h, the speed limit, P85, is 10.5 km/h and the disturbance speed, P15, is
0 km/h. The range of data needed to reach a 95% confidence level of significance is from
10.2373 to 10.6627.

To sum up the spot speed for the automatic method for the design speed, P98 is 40 km/h,
as for the speed limit, P85 is 30 km/h or 40 km/h and the disturbance speed, P15 is 25 km/h.
While for the manual method, the design speed, P98 is 15 km/h, the speed limit, P85 is 10 or
15 km/h and the disturbance speed, P15 is 0 km/h. After calculating the spot speed, we get the
conclusion that the posted speed restriction is appropriate and that most drivers adhere to it.
This demonstrates how well the local speed limit is enforced.
REFERENCE

1. Mugdha P. (n.d.). Spot Speed Studies in Traffic Engineering: Endoscope, Measurement

and Methods. Engineering eNotes. https://www.engineeringenotes.com/transportation-
engineering/traffic-engineering/spot-speed-studies-in-traffic-engineering-endoscope-
measurement-and-methods/48389