TRAFFIC ENGINEERING Road Classification System (from top to bottom)

1. Expressways/freeways
What? 2. National roads (primary, secondary, tertiary)
● Deals with the planning, geometric design, and traffic 3. Provincial roads
operations of roads, streets, and highways, their networks, 4. Municipal/City roads
terminals, abutting lands, and relationships with other modes of 5. Barangay roads
transportation for the achievement of safe, efficient, and
convenient movement of persons and goods; Road Classification System (Mobility vs. Access)
● Applies engineering principles to help solve transportation
problems, and brings into play a knowledge of psychology and
habit of users of the transportation systems, aside from
technical foundations

Why?
A professional traffic engineer's greatest obstacle in applying sound
traffic engineering principles is that “everyone is a traffic expert”.
The unfortunate result of this attitude of expertise is the creation of
traffic hazards when false theories of individuals or groups are
implemented. Without the training, the cure may be worse than the
disease.

How does a traffic engineer solve traffic problems?

As a trained professional, he/she looks at the symptoms, and in
order to make a competent diagnosis, she/he takes traffic counts,
analyzes accident statistics, studies speed data, examines roadway Importance of Road Classification System
conditions, conducts research, and studies what other 1. Define administrative jurisdictions related to road design,
professionals are doing and the results they have achieved. construction, operation, and maintenance
2. For operational safety and efficiency
How do traffic engineers promote safer traffic operations? ● Affects the standards to use
● By providing roadway conditions that contribute to smooth and - higher speed and volume → lower speed and volume
efficient traffic flow; - uninterrupted flow vs. interrupted flow
● Safety goes hand-in-hand with smooth traffic operations; ● Defines control of access, right of way, and intersection traffic
● Design a road to accommodate vehicles at a certain speed and control
for a maximum capacity - an intersection design, intersecting roads should not
be different by more than one hierarchy level
Why not search for a solution by trial and error?
● It can be done but, trial and error can be expensive, in terms of Land Use and Transportation Systems
lost manhours and wasted fuel consumption. Possible Intervention:
● The motoring public will get confused with traffic pattern that 1. Arterial improvements
changes every now and then. ● Road widening
● More accidents could ensue. The streets of Metro Manila have ● Pavement improvement
no room for guesswork or whimsical and unfounded theories. ● Construction of new roads/bridges
● Other facilities
2. Land use change
GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT ● Control of type
Issues: ● Control of intensity
1. Delays increasing as a result of roads reaching capacity
➢ Increasing population
➢ Per capita ownership of vehicles
➢ Leisure use
2. Side friction increases due to vehicles gaining access
➢ Vehicles slowing down
➢ Stopping
➢ parking/unparked
➢ Pedestrian activity (warranting pedestrian crossing
facilities)
3. Long-term impacts are:
➢ Increased fuel consumption
➢ Higher road transport cost
➢ Diverted traffic (arterial to local roads)

Objectives and Scope

● Provision of even distribution or motor traffic activity through
streets that fall into a similar functional category Goals of Traffic Management Schemes
● elimination of potentially hazardous locations ● Traffic Management Schemes may be implemented
● Improvement of traffic movement on the arterial roads a. To improve road safety
● Improvement of drivers' behavior b. To improve local amenities
● Minimization of adverse effects on the operation of the arterial c. To improve local access and circulation
road system d. To improve the utility of arterial roads
● Provision of adequate access to abutting properties on local ● Techniques
streets a. Vehicle route techniques
● Enhance the local environment b. Driver behavior techniques
● Reduction of through traffic in a residential street c. Risk reduction techniques
d. Non-traffic technique
Improvement & Management of Arterial Roads DOCUMENTING THE TRAFFIC PROBLEM
1. Construction of new arterial roads
2. Widening or reconstruction of existing arterial roads to Accidents at Intersections
improve their capacity
3. Flaring of intersections on existing arterial roads to increase
capacity
4. Application of traffic management techniques such as:
● Additional lanes at intersections
● Prohibition of turns at congested intersections
● Parking bans
● Tidal flow
● Traffic signal coordination and area traffic control

Traffic Management Techniques for Local Roads

Reduced local street connectivity
● Street closure at intersections
● Mid-block street closure
● Diagonal closure of the intersection
● Half closures at the intersection
● Turn restriction by channelization or medians
● One-way streets

IDENTIFYING AND DEFINING THE TRAFFIC PROBLEM

The Rationale for Traffic Engineering & Management

● There are not enough roads to accommodate the growing Documenting the Problem
volume of motor vehicles ● Name and width of the road, in meters, or a number of lanes (if
● Greater reliance must therefore be placed on traffic an intersection includes all the roads);
management techniques to increase the practical capacity of ● Pavement type and condition (poor/good, concrete/asphalt);
available road space ● Geometric elements (alignment, sight distance, etc.)
● Location and dimensions of median, island, or separator if any;
Defining the Traffic Problem ● Sidewalk conditions, and the presence of road-side frictions
❖ Chokepoint - an intersection or a section of a busy road, or a like street vendors;
block bounded by several roads ● Presence of humps, potholes, obstacles;
- usually a segment of the busiest street where the most ● Presence (or absence) of such traffic control devices, such as
number of vehicles pass each day traffic signals, pavement markings, delineators, traffic signs,
❖ Traffic bottleneck - a point in the traffic stream where the pedestrian barriers, pedestrian overpasses, etc.;
number of vehicles entering an upstream flow is greater than ● Presence of bus/jeepney/tricycle/pedicab terminals (on street)
the number of vehicles that can get out at the downstream end or loading/unloading areas;
● Estimated volume of vehicles and pedestrians; if readily
Indicators of Traffic Bottleneck available at the site;
1. Measurable indicators ● Traffic regulations (one-way, turn prohibitions), etc.
a. Queue length
b. Intersection throughout Types of Traffic Surveys
c. Travel speed ● Classified Intersection Turning Movement Counts
d. Travel time ● Mid-block Vehicle Volume Counts
e. Delay time ● Passenger Occupancy Surveys
f. Volume-capacity ratio (VCR) ● Origin and Destination Surveys
g. Signal cycle time (for signalized intersections) ● Travel Time/Delay Surveys
h. The number of traffic accidents ● Queue Length Survey
2. Describable indicators ● Parking Survey
a. Presence of a vehicle queue ● Pedestrian Survey
b. Blocked or grid-locked intersections ● Inventory Survey
c. Low intersection throughputs ● Traffic Violation Survey
d. Presence of risky or dangerous maneuvers
e. Chaotic pedestrian flows Traffic Volume Survey
f. Unsafe pedestrian crossings used as a parameter to establish the:
g. Commuters spilling over on road pavement ● Relative importance and role of a road in traffic system
h. Uncontrolled roadside parking ● Variations in levels of traffic flow over time
i. Frequent blowing of horns ● Extent of the use of a facility in terms of its capacity to carry
j. Presence of makeshift traffic control devices such as signs, traffic, and
humps, and barriers ● Distribution of travel demand in a network
Inventory Surveys
Information collected includes:
● Parking restrictions
● Road layout
● Turn bans
● Intersection controls
● Speed limits
● Bus stops
The data is usually recorded in a map
 - multi-leg
- rotary (rotonda, roundabout)

How to start a traffic management plan?

1. Intersection selection
2. Conduct traffic surveys; topographic, road inventory, and traffic
movement count surveys, etc.
3. Plot the data and prepare the preliminary TMP

ROAD SIGNS & PAVEMENT MARKINGS

To be effective, the road sign should:

● Fulfill a need;
● Command attention;
● Convey a clear, simple message;
● Command respect; and
● Give adequate time for proper response

Road Signs
➔ a device mounted on a fixed support (permanent signs) or
Geometric Design for At-grade Intersection portable support (temporary signs) whereby a specific
Objectives: message is conveyed by means of words or symbols placed or
● Design safe intersection erected for the purpose of regulating, warning or guiding traffic
● Cater for necessary traffic movements
● Cater adequately for all road users Authority for Installation
● Positive guidance for drivers Traffic signs shall be installed only upon approval of the Secretary
● Cost effective of the DPWH or his delegated authority, having the necessary
jurisdiction, for the purpose of regulating, warning or guiding traffic.
Intersection Design Procedure No traffic signs shall bear any advertising or commercial message,
Basic Data for Design or any other messages that are not essential to traffic control.
- Traffic data
- Site conditions The placement of unauthorized traffic signs on the highway
- Preliminary designs right-of-way or adjacent to the road by a private organization or
individual is not allowed. The display of unofficial, non-standard,
At-Grade Intersection and non-essential signs is not permitted.
❖ At-grade intersection do not provide fro the flow of traffic at
different levels and therefore there exist conflicts between DEFINITION OF TERMS
intersecting stream of traffic ● Regulatory Signs - signs that inform road users of traffic laws
❖ Poor intersection layout due to lack of channelization results to and regulations which, if disregarded, will constitute an offense
traffic congestion is the common problem on the at-grade ● Special Instruction Signs - signs that instruct road users to
intersections meet certain traffic rule requirements or road condition
● Warning Signs - warn road users of condition on or adjacent
Intersection Conflicts to the road that may be unexpected or hazardous
● Guide Signs (Informative Signs) - inform and advise road
users of directions, distances, routes, the location of services
for road users and points of interests
● Roadwork Signs - warn or advice the temporary hazardous
conditions that could endanger road users or the men and
equipment engaged on roadwork
● Overhead Signs - signs which provide means of displaying
essential traffic information on wide multi-lane roads, where
some degree of lane use control is required, or where
side-of-road clearance is insufficient to accommodate a
roadside sign
● Barriers - highway appurtenances designed to prevent
vehicular penetration from the travel way to areas behind the
barrier such as to minimize damage to impacting vehicles and
their occupant, and to reduce the risk of injuries to pedestrians
and workers
● Flasing Lamps - warning devices used to supplement other
controls and devices necessary to alert motorists of
construction and maintenance activities or obstructions in the
roadway
● Delineators - light retro-reflecting devices mounted at the side
of the roadway, in series, to indicate the roadway alignment
Types of Intersections ● Traffic Cones - devices which may be conical in shape or
Shapes: tubular-shaped capable of performing channelization of traffic
- three leg intersection which may be set on the surface of the roadway or rigidly
➔ T-type attached for continued use
➔ Y-type ● Temporary Curbing - roadwork devices consisting of pre-cast
- four leg intersection concrete sections, sandbag and others which, may be used to
➔ Right angle guide traffic at the construction site
➔ Oblique
 ● Flexible Post or Bollard - device used in place of rigid barrier
posts or traffic cones with a minimum of 450mm by 50mm wide
with alternate bands of contrasting color as seen approaching
traffic for delineation of traffic

CLASSIFICATIONS OF SIGNS
1. Regulatory Signs (Type R) - indicate the application of legal or
statutory requirements, e.g. obligation to give way at
intersections, speed limits, prohibition of movements at
intersections, and control of parking of vehicles

5. Traffic Instruction Signs (Type S) - used at locations where

ordinary guide and regulatory signs do not achieve the desired
result. These signs instruct motorists to follow a direction or to
obey a course of action. Traffic instruction signs are normally
not regulatory signs but are used in conjunction with regulatory
or warning signs to form a standard treatment and to support
the operation of traffic rules

2. Warning Signs (Type W) - used to warn motorists of potentially

hazardous conditions on or adjacent to the road. The warning
signs advise motorists of road conditions that require caution
and may call for a reduction in speed, in the interest of safety
and that of other road users

6. Hazard Markers (Type HM) - used to emphasize to the

approaching driver a marked change in the direction of travel
and the presence of an obstruction

3. Guide Signs or Informative Sign (Type G) - inform road users

about the direction and distances of destinations on the route
they are following or along other roads that intersect their route.
They also supply information to identify points of geographical
or historical interest and give directions to rest areas, camping,
or parking areas

FIVE COMMUNICATION PRINCIPLES FOR GOOD SIGNAGE

AND MARKINGS ARE:
1. Conspicuous - the sign has to be seen
2. Clear - the size and color of the letters and symbols, need to
be legible and of sufficient size that can be easily read at an
appropriate distance
3. Comprehensible - the sign needs to be understood (e.g. too
many words on the sign may prevent the whole message
from being read by an approaching motorist)
4. Credible - the message conveyed by the sign has to be
believable to drivers otherwise, they will tend to ignore it
5. Consistent - similar traffic situations should use standard
signs that are consistent with the manual. If signs have
4. Signs for Expressways (Type GE) - designed to carry traffic
consistent color, shape symbols, and words, this will reduce
at high speed. It is essential that drivers be given adequate
driver reaction times, improve driver understanding and
advance information to ensure that they can position their
increase the level of safety.
vehicles in the correct lanes to undertake the correct
maneuvers and so ensure that delayed decision-making is kept
to a minimum