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 dynamic characteristics of
vehicles that affect the design of roads
 Improvementof traffic
performance on Road Networks.

Application
of scientific principles
and techniques for safe ,rapid,
convenient &economic movement
of people
 Driver
Road User

Pedestrian

Vehicle

Road and (general environment, and control

devices)
 Considers the aspects of human behaviour on the
road.
1 Physiological Characteristics- Measurable and
Usually Quantifiable Characteristics
Vision
Hearing
2 Psychological Characteristics- More difficult
to measure and quantify
Perception
Intellection
Emotion
Volition/Reaction
3 Variability among the users
 Most important factor that affects highway
design & safety.
Ability to see:
Acute or clear vision cone
Fairly clear vision cone
Peripheral vision
Glare vision & recovery
Colour vision
Depth perception
 (a) Acute or clear vision cone
Field of clearest & acute vision is within the cone
whose angle is 3 about the centre line of Retina.
Helps for Distant Vision.
(b) Fairly clear vision cone
Vision is satisfactory when angle of cone is 10 to
12 around the line of sight;
Colour and shape can be identified in this field.
Important for locating Traffic signs and signals.
 (c) Peripheral Vision
Total Visual Field for the two eyes.
Vision is possible but without clear details and
colour.
Angle of Peripheral Vision-
160 in horizontal Direction
115 in vertical Direction.
 (d) Glare recovery
Drivers ability to adapt to glare and variations in
lighting conditions.
Factors affecting glare recovery
Age
Use of eyeglasses
Recovery time : 3-6 seconds
 (e) Colour vision
Most important for identifying :
Traffic lights
Traffic signs
(f) Depth Perception
Ability to judge the distance and speed of
approaching vehicles
Important to pedestrians when crossing the road.
For Driver's judgment of the speed of other
vehicles, this is important
 Very vital to road user.
To hear SOUND OF HORNS
Alert Pedestrians
Important to elderly people with
failing eyesight
 Perception-Reaction Process
PIEV(PIER) Theory
Perception
Intellection
Emotion
Volition/ Reaction
 Perception: Time required to perceive an
object
Intellection: Time required for understanding
the situation.
Emotion: Time elapsed during emotional
sensations and disturbances.
Volition: Time taken for final action
 PRT = Perception + Reaction = (Detection +
Identification + Decision making) + (Physical
response)
PIEV = Perception + Identification + Emotion +
Reaction (or volition)
PIEV = f (Complexity of the task, Level of
expectancy, Variability of the drivers)
Perception Reaction Dist. (meter) = Speed
(m/sec)* PRT (sec)
How far the car travels during the perception-
reaction process Affects sight distance
requirement, sign placement, signal timing, etc.
 Problems with younger drivers
Difficulty in judging speed, distance and reaction
time
Tend to concentrate on near objects
Missing the important information, because its
relevance is not understood
Having difficulty in integrating information
Under-estimating the risk of accident involvement
Making less effective driving decisions
 Problems with older drivers
Difficulties in rapid decision making, esp, at
intersections
Take time to absorb traffic control information
Difficulty at night
Lower light level
Headlight glare
Readily fatigued
 Variability among the drivers should be noted
If an average value is chosen, you miss 50%
of the driver population
Thus the 85th percentile is often used
(meaning that at least 85% of the user
population must be safely covered)
 Affects the design of pedestrian facilities and
pedestrian control devices (e.g., pedestrian
signal)
Walking speed most critical Variability
exists too
 Affect the design and Traffic performance.
Vehicular characteristics consist of
Static Characteristics
Dynamic Characteristics
Static Characteristics include
dimensions (Width, Height, Overhang, Length)
weight and
maximum turning angle.
Dynamic Characteristics include
Speed
Acceleration
Braking Characteristics
 1) VEHICLE DIMENSIONS
a). Width :
Affect width of traffic lanes, shoulders & parking
facilities .
b). Height and overhang:
Affects the clearance of overhead structures.
Clearance under over bridges, under bridges, electric &
other service lines.
Height of driver seat provide clear vision of the road
to his front & sides.
Height of headlight- affects sight distances at valley
curves.
 c). Length:
Important factor in design of Horizontal alignment
Length affects
safe overtaking distance
capacity of road
extra widening requirement
minimum turning radius
parking facilities
design of valley curves
 2). Weight:
Affects design of pavement thickness & gradients.
Limiting gradients are governed by weight & power
of vehicles.
Power: Power of heaviest and loaded weights
vehicle govern permissible and limiting gradients.
Power affects the speed and acceleration of vehicle.
3). Minimum Turning Radius :
Depends on length of wheel base and features of
steering system
Affects design of sharp curves.
 a) Speed:
It affects
Sight distances
Superelevation
Length of transition curve
Vertical curves
Width of pavement and shoulders
Design gradient
Capacity of traffic lane
Design of intersections.
Design speed controls most of the geometric features
of the highway.
 b) Acceleration:
Governed by Vehicle transmission system, weight
and horse power.
Acceleration characteristics affect
Laying out passing zones
Freeway acceleration lanes
Intersection sight distance
Acceleration capability = f (Speed of vehicle)
Usually maximum acceleration rate decreases as
speed goes up.
Maximum deceleration rate depends upon friction
between tyres and pavement.
 c) Braking Characteristics:
Important for safety.
Affects Safety of vehicle operation ,stopping
distance and the spacing between two consecutive
vehicles in a traffic steam
Interaction between tyre & road surface governs
braking performance.
 Lighting system consist of
a). Headlight
To provide a main beam for the driver to see the road ahead.
To provide a dipper beam for avoiding glare to the opposing
traffic.
b). Rear Lamps :
Give indication to the driver about presence of a vehicle in
front of him .
Avoid Front- to rear collision.
c). Direction Indicators :
Give adequate notice of the intention of driver to turn or to
stop.
Usually amber in colour.