LAB 1: SPOT SPEED STUDY

Introduction

Level 2 laboratory activities refer to the condition where only the problem is guided and
given. Students are required to find the ways & means and provide the answers to the given
assignment using the group creativity and innovativeness. The activity will enable the students to
appreciate independent learning and prepare them for a much harder task of open ended activities.

In this partially open laboratory activity, the students are required to carry out tests to
determine a spot speed of a traffic at one point or spot on a traffic way. It consists of a series or a
sample of observation of thee individual speed of vehicle at a straight road.

Speed is a primary factor of all modes transportation and it is a basic measure of traffic
performance. Various types of speed will be measure from this study.

Objective

1. To determine the speed distribution of the traffic at a selected location.

Theory

In this laboratory activity, the device (radar speed meter) operates on a Doppler principle
that the speed of a moving target is proportional to the change in frequency between the radio beam
transmitted to the target and the reflected radio beam. The equipment measures this differences and
converts it to a direct reading in km per hour. The accuracy of speed determination is 2 miles per
hour up to 100 miles per hour.

Formula:

Σ𝑓𝑣
1. Arithmetic mean speed, ʋ =
𝑛
𝑛
−𝑓𝐿
2
2. Median = L + [ ]C
𝑓𝑚

Σ(𝑓𝑣 2 ) Σ(𝑓ʋ)2
3. Standard Deviation = √ −
(𝑛−1) 𝑛(𝑛−1)

Apparatus

1. Radar Meter
2. Safety Vests

Procedure

1. A proper location and placement of radar meter was selected.

2. Next, an appropriate selection strategy then determined.
3. The radar meter first calibrated by using its fork to make sure that there are no errors on the
radar meter.
4. After that, the radar measurement for selected vehicle were measured and the observations
were recorded in the radar meter spot study data form.
Data Acquisition

Highest Speed − Lowest Speed

Speed Class =
No of. Class

90 −35
=
6

= 9.167

= 10 km/h

Speed Class (km/h) Frequency

30 – 39.9 2
40 – 49.9 12
50 – 59.9 25
60 – 69.9 27
70 – 79.9 20
80 – 89.9 14
 Cumulative
Speed Percentage of Percentage of
Mid speed, v Number of Observations, % Observations, fv fv²
(km/hr)
(km/hr) Observations, f %

30 – 39.9 34.95 2 2 2 69.9 2443.0

40 – 49.9 44.95 12 12 14 539.4 24246.03
50 – 59.9 54.95 25 25 39 1373.75 75487.56
60 – 69.9 64.95 27 27 66 1753.65 113899.57
70 – 79.9 74.95 20 20 86 1499 112350.05
80 – 89.9 84.95 14 14 100 1189.3 101031.04
TOTAL 100 100 6489.35 429457.25
Histogram

30.00-39.90 40.00-49.90 50.00-59.90 60.00-69.90 70.00-79.90 80.00-89.90

Ogive
 Ogive 100
100

90 86

80

70 66
Percentage %

60

50
39
40

30

20 14

10 2
0
0
30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90
Speed (km/h)

Percentile speed at

15th = 45.5 km/h

50th = 58.5 km/h

85th = 74.0 km/h

90th = 77.5 km/h

Arithmetic Mean Speed, ʋ

Σ𝑓𝑣
=
𝑛

6489.35
=
100

= 64.89 km/h

Median

𝑛
−𝑐𝐿
2
=L+[ ]C
𝑓𝑚

100
2
−66
= 64.95 + [ ](9.9)
27

= 59.08 km/h

Standard Deviation

Σ(𝑓𝑣 2 ) Σ(𝑓ʋ)2
=√ −
(𝑛−1) 𝑛(𝑛−1)

429457.25 6489.352
=√ −
100−1 100(100−1)

= 9.18 km/h
DISCUSSION

The Spot Speed Test is the occurring speed of a vehicle of an individual vehicle at a specific
location over a short distance either on a street or highway to determine the speed distribution. The
data were gathered and analysed to determine the vehicle speed percentile which can be used to
make decisions on any speed-related decisions. There are a few importance of this Speed Spot Test
related to safety applications which are:
1. Important to determine the speed trends of the vehicle passes by the location.
2. To plan the traffic control at the area.
3. For accidental analysis for the chosen area in order to reduce accidents which could
lead to fatality.
4. For geometrical design of the roads or highways for current and future estimates.
This test was carried out by using a radar meter gun to determine the speed distribution of
vehicle passes by the location selected. In this test, we were told to take the speed of 80 vehicles
in front of UiTM Campus 2 Kota Samarahan.
There were few problems encountered during this test. One of it was that the range of speed
of the vehicles were mostly in between 65 – 74 km/h and there were only a few cars that reach the
speed more than 85 km/h. Next is since the location was not a busy area, so to collect datas from
100 vehicles took a lot of time and patience for all of us.
From the result, we can see that there were no cars that have speed less than 35 km/h. From
what we analysed also, the highest frequency of speed is in the range of 65 – 74km/h which has
27 cars within the speed range. Both of these results may be due to the highway which can be
considered as a straight highway without any road junctions and the highway only leads to UiTM
Campus.
CONCLUSION

In a nutshell, from the test conducted, we have plotted 2 graphs which are Frequency versus
Speed Histogram and Cumulative Percentage Frequency Curve. From Frequency versus Speed
Histogram, the results obtained are:
1. Arithmetic Mean Speed = 64.89 km/h
2. Median = 59.08 km/h
3. Standard Deviation = 9.18 km/h
4. Mode speed = 64.95 km/h

Next, for the Cumulative Percentage Frequency Curve, the following are the results obtained:
1. P95 = 77.5 km/h
2. P85 = 74 km/h
3. P50 = 58.5 km/h
4. P15 = 45.5 km/h

The Speed Spot Test using the Radar Meter Gun Method is a portable and the easiest way to
determine the speed distribution at one spot in a traffic way. Plus, this method is a method which
is free from vehicular damage and free from magnetic interference which could affect our health.
But this method is difficult to be used for two-lane road and the apparatus used was quite
expensive. Therefore, it should be handled with care.
There are some factors that could affect the Speed Spot Study which are the driver of the
vehicles, the vehicle itself, the roadway, traffic, surroundings and the traffic volume at the current
location.