Stopping Sight

Distance

CE 331 Transportation Engineering

Sight Distance

 Definition:
The length of the roadway (or crossroad)
ahead that is visible to the driver to enable
a vehicle traveling at design speed to
 stop before reaching a stationary object in
its path
 make a decision
 Pass
 Decide what to do at a RR Xing
Stopping Sight Distance
(SSD)
 SSD = d r + db
 dr :
distance traveled during the
driver’s P-R time
 db: distance needed to stop the
vehicle from the instant the
brake is applied
SSD Formula
 Mixed unit equations:

SSD = 1.47Vtr + V2/[30(a/32.2+G)]

 SSD: stopping sight distance (ft)
 V: vehicle speed (mph)
 tr: P-R time, use 2.5sec if not given
 a: deceleration rate (ft/s2); g=32.2 fps2
 G: grade

SSD = (0.28) tru + 0.u2/[(254)(f+G)]

 SSD: stopping sight distance (m)

 u: vehicle speed (kph)
 f: friction factor (note: f = a/g in appropriate units)
 Example
Will truck strike tree?
3% u=90 km/h; t = 1 sec; f= 0.15
170

90 +0.03

S = (0.28)t u + u2/[(254)(f+g)] = 202.37 m

1 0.15 YES