1.

0 INTRODUCTION

Speed is the rate of movement of a vehicle, generally expressed in kilometers per hour.

A spot speed study is a study of traffic speed at one point or spot on a traffic way. It
consists of a series or a sample of observations of the individual speeds at which vehicles
are approaching an intersection or passing a point at a non-intersection location. These
observations are used to estimate the speed distribution of the entire traffic stream at that
location, under the conditions prevailing at the time of the study.

Spot speed studies can be used to study speeds at problem locations in order to determine
whether speeds are too high and if complaints received are justified, for accident analysis
in order to determine the relationship of speed to accidents which may help in developing
corrective measures, and for before-and-after studies in order to evaluate the effect of some
change in controls or conditions.

In relation with this study, there has been several complaints of vehicles speeding along
the UTHM-Fujitsu section of road. This poses a danger to motorists, pedestrians and
cyclists as there is a lot of activity in the area. Furthermore, there are plenty of right-turning
movements along this stretch of road, with no storage lanes provided for right-turners.
This is dangerous because the right-turners stop on the fast lane and have no protection.

2.0 OBJECTIVE

The objectives of this study are:

(a) To determine the speed characteristics of traffic at the location.

(b) To justify the problem of speeding at the location.
3.0 APPARATUS

1. Radar Gun
2. Forms SS1 and SS2
3. Graph Paper (3 nos)
4. Safety Vest

4.0 PROCEDURE

1. The spot at which the speed data will be collected is indentified.

2. The radar gun to measure the speed of vehicles is used according to their
respective vehicle class – Class 1 (Motorcycles), Class 2 (Cars), Class 3 (Vans &
Medium Trucks), and Class 4 (Large Trucks & Buses).
[Make sure that the operator of the radar gun is not seen by the motorists]
3. All speed measurements recorded in Form SS1.
4. Based on Form SS1, determine the mean, maximum and minimum speed of
vehicles according to their class. Your findings are commented.
5. The data is transferred in Form SS1 to Form SS2.
6. The following are plotted:
(a) Frequency Histogram (Percentage of vehicles vs. Speed)
(b) Frequency Distribution Curve (Percentage of vehicles vs. Speed)
(c) Cumulative Frequency Distribution Curve (Cumulative percentage vs. Speed)
7. The following speed characteristics is determined:
(a) Mean speed
 (b) Median speed
(c) Mode speed
(d) 85-th Percentile speed
(e) Standard deviation
(f) Pace

5.0 DATA ANALYSIS & RESULT

Form SS1
Location: bustop FKAAS Day: Monday
Date: 8th October 2018 Time: 2.40 pm Weather: cloudy/ wet

Spot Speed (km/h)

Time Vehicle Class
1 2 3 4
36 11.25 32.7 10.29 16.36 14.40 22 22
(2.40 - 20 12 25 30 15 8.77
2.55) 27.7 34 20
pm
40 20 32
36 16
21 10.12 20 30 20 15 18 10 8 15 13
(2.55 - 14 18 14 13 9 9
3.10) 10.9 10 13 12
pm
14 14 17
12 8 14
8 10 20 10 23 17 14.4 25
(3.10 14 17.14 13.11 24 23 16
– 17.83 10 11 18
3.25)
pm 22 11 20
25 24 17
12.67 23.74 12.86 19 25 17 22.5 15.32 20 13
(3.25 13.85 24.13 17.8 12.86 12.46
– 22.5 14.40 10.91
3.40)
am 22.3 22.5 11.25
8 15
 Number of Vehicles
SPEED CLASS
(km/h) Vehicles Class
Total
1 2 3 4
10 – 14 12 20 2 2 36
15 - 19 4 18 3 1 26
20 - 24 6 12 2 2 22
25 - 29 1 3 1 5
30 - 34 1 4 5
35 -39 1 1 2
40 - 44 1 1

Speed Class Class fx Percentage Cumulative

Class Midpoint, x Frequency, f in Class, Percentage
(km/h) (km/h) (%) (%)
10 – 14 12 36 432 37.12 37.12
15 - 19 17 26 442 26.81 63.93
20 - 24 22 22 484 22.68 86.61
25 - 29 27 5 135 5.15 91.67
30 - 34 32 5 160 5.15 96.91
35 -39 37 2 74 2.06 98.97
40 - 44 42 1 42 1.03 100
∑n = 97 ∑ = 1769 ∑ = 100

Speed Class Class Class Frequency fn.x

(km/h) Midpoint
,x f1 f2 f3 f4 f1.x f2.x f3.x f4.x
(km/h)
10 – 14 12 12 20 2 2 144 240 24 24
15 - 19 17 4 18 3 1 68 306 51 17
20 - 24 22 6 12 2 2 132 264 44 44
25 - 29 27 1 3 1 27 81 27
30 - 34 32 1 4 32 128
35 -39 37 1 1 37 37
40 - 44 42 1 42
25 59 7 6 440 1098 119 112