EXcellence in Professional Engineering

Review and Training Solutions

REFRESHER | Terms

Terminologies Part 5 2. Identification is the time to read and understand

the sign. The average driver comprehends three
FUNDAMENTALS OF TRANSPORTATION words per second.
ENGINEERING 3. Emotion is the time to consider the sign’s meaning
and make a decision. Sometimes, the decision is that
I. Safety on the Highway
no action is needed. In other cases, the type of action
Road Safety Management Process: must be decided.
I. Network Screening 4. Volition is the time to react or execute a maneuver.
II. Diagnosis A typical driving maneuver is to apply the brakes or
III. Select countermeasures turn the steering wheel.
IV. Economic Appraisal
Changing the status quo – Normally, expectancy is a
V. Prioritize Projects
design feature that helps motorists. A straight road
VI. Safety Effectiveness Evaluation
will stay straight until a sign that warns of a curve
Human Factors, also called ergonomics or engineering ahead appears. Traffic signals are usually placed
psychology, is the study of how human beings function above the intersection, on cables or on masts.
in their natural or constructed surroundings.
Railroad grade crossings – More than half of such
[MAY 2022] Driving Task - Operating a motor vehicle deaths are attributable to motor vehicle operator
on a street or highway can be complex and demanding inattention or impatience. Motorists fail to see the
at times, but it can be boring at other times. This range train, misjudge its speed, or simply lose a race to the
of circumstances – coupled with the range of driver tracks. Many of these fatal collisions occur at crossings
capabilities – presents a challenge to the highway with active warning devices.
designer.
License plate design and law enforcement – the license
It is helpful to begin by considering the three essential plate on a motor vehicle serves two principal
elements of the driving task: functions:
1. Navigation (Route Selection) – Because most trips 1. to indicate that the vehicle is registered
are made repeatedly, or in familiar street networks, 2. to uniquely identify the vehicle for law
this is usually the least complex of the driving task enforcement, data collection, or toll collection
elements. However, when a driver is looking for purposes.
information to reach a destination in an unfamiliar
A Traffic Control Devices is a sign or pavement marking
network, that activity may detract from other
that is used to regulate, warn, or guide drivers as they
driving task elements.
operate their vehicles.
2. Guidance (Vehicle Tracking) – Staying on the
roadway and staying in the proper lane have The traffic control device must:
obvious implications for safety. Examples: Lane and I. Be needed
edge markings on the pavement, and delineators II. Command attention
along the roadside. III. Convey a clear, simple message
3. Control (Object Avoidance) – This activity involves IV. Command respect
proper application of steering and speed control V. Be placed to get the proper response from the
skills. At the basic level, steering around clearly driver
visible fixed objects and maintain a safe distance
from vehicles ahead and to the side constitutes the Traffic signs are placed into three major
control element. classifications, defined by their function – Regulatory,
Warning, and Guide Signs.
Perception-Reaction Times – A driver sees most cues
(signs, potential threats) soon enough to process them In general, traffic signs can also be categorized by
safely by routine driving actions – reduce speed, shape and color:
change vehicle path, or simply monitor the situation. I. Regulatory: rectangle; black on white or red
II. Warning: diamond; black on yellow
The time needed for a driver to recognize and respond III. School Zone: Schoolhouse shape; black on
to the cue is called PIEV time. fluorescent yellow-green
1. Perception is the time it takes to see the sign. This IV. Work Zone: Diamond; black on orange
is the time needed to locate the cue and classify the V. Recreational and Cultural interest: rectangle or
cue as a sign to be read. trapezoid; white on brown

MAY 2022
Engr. J.A. Margallo
 EXcellence in Professional Engineering
Review and Training Solutions
REFRESHER | Terms

Pavement Markings – like roadway signs, are used to 1. The maximum sustainable flow rate at which
warn, regulate, and inform motorists. Knowing what vehicles or persons reasonably can be expected to
various pavement markings mean is important to the traverse a point or uniform segment of a lane or
motorist, because they have the same force of law as roadway during a specified time under given
signs. roadway, geometric, traffic, environmental, and
control conditions; usually expressed as vehicles
Yellow Markings per hour, passenger cars per hour, or persons per
I. Yellow Markings such as centerlines separate hour.
traffic flow going in opposite directions. A. Flow C. Density
II. Dashed (or broken) yellow lines on the motorist’s B. Capacity D. Delay
side indicate where passing is permitted on two-
lane two-way roads. 2. The additional travel time experienced by a
vehicle or pedestrian with reference to a base
III. Solid yellow lines indicate where passing is not
travel time
permitted, although turning into a driveway across
A. Flow C. Density
them is allowed where not prohibited. B. Capacity D. Delay
IV. A single yellow line indicates the left edge of a
divided roadway. 3. The number of vehicles per unit distance along a
road segment as measured at an instant in time.
White Lines
A. Flow C. Density
I. White Markings, such as lane lines, separate traffic B. Capacity D. Delay
going in the same direction on multi-lane or one-
way roads 4. Number of vehicles or pedestrians per unit time
II. Dashed (or broken) lines separate lanes of travel passing (arriving or departing) a given reference
where changing lanes is not restricted and where point.
the lane use is not restricted. A. Flow C. Density
III. Solid white lines are restrictive B. Capacity D. Delay

Transverse pavement markings – include crosswalks, 5. An index of the operational performance of

stoplines, turn movement restrictions, and parking traffic on a given traffic lane, roadway, or
spaces. intersection, based on service measures such as
delay, degree of saturation, density and speed
Delineators are used to guide drivers through turns, during a given flow period.
especially at night or at times of poor visibility. A. Major Stop C. Peak Period
Object markers are used to obstructions within or B. Level of Service D. Lane Utilization
adjacent to the roadway
6. The provision of safety sight distance depends
on the following:
I. Driver
II. Vehicle
III. Road Environment
IV. Time of Day
A. I, II, III C. I, III
B. I, II, IV D. All of the above

7. Components of stopping sight distance

I. Road Geometry
II. Reaction Distance
III. Braking Distance
IV. Driver
V. Vehicle
A. I, IV, V C. II, III
B. I, II, III, IV D. All of the above

8. Shoulder paving is a valuable method of

providing:
I. Integrity of the pavement
II. Width to place edge line pavement markings

MAY 2022
Engr. J.A. Margallo
 EXcellence in Professional Engineering
Review and Training Solutions
REFRESHER | Terms

III. Additional safety to prevent vehicles skidding damage to impacting vehicles and their
or drivers losing control in gravel occupants, and to reduce the risk of injuries to
IV. Low maintenance costs compared with pedestrians and workers
unpaved shoulders A. Overhead Signs C. Roadwork Signs
A. I, III C. I, II, IV B. Barriers D. Guide Signs
B. II, IV D. All of the above
17. Warning devices used to supplement other
9. Device mounted on a fixed support (permanent controls and devices necessary to alert motorists
signs) or portable support (temporary signs) of construction and maintenance activities or
whereby a specific message is conveyed by obstructions in the roadway
means of words or symbols placed or erected for A. Flashing Lamps C. Delineators
the purpose of regulating, warning, or guiding B. Temporary D. Traffic Cones
traffic Curbing
A. Warning Signs C. Special Instruction
Signs 18. Devices which may be conical in shape or
B. Traffic Signs D. Regulatory Signs tubular shaped capable of performing
channelization of traffic which may be set on the
10. Signs that inform road users of traffic laws and surface of the roadway or rigidly attached for
regulations, which if disregarded, will constitute continued use
an offense A. Flashing Lamps C. Delineators
A. Warning Signs C. Special Instruction B. Temporary D. Traffic Cones
Signs Curbing
B. Traffic Signs D. Regulatory Signs
19. Roadwork devices consisting of pre-cast
11. Signs that instruct road users to meet certain concrete sections, sandbag, and others which,
traffic rule requirements or road condition may be used to guide traffic at the construction
A. Warning Signs C. Special Instruction site
Signs A. Flashing Lamps C. Delineators
B. Traffic Signs D. Regulatory Signs B. Temporary D. Traffic Cones
Curbing
12. Warn road users of condition on or adjacent to
the road that may be unexpected or hazardous 20. Classification of Signs
A. Warning Signs C. Special Instruction I. Regulatory Signs
Signs II. Warning Signs
B. Traffic Signs D. Regulatory Signs III. Guide Signs or Informative Sign
IV. Signs for Expressways
13. Inform and advise road users of directions, V. Signs for Special Purposes
distances, routes, the location of services for VI. Hazard Makers
road users, and point of interest A. All except VI C. All except IV, V, VI
A. Overhead Signs C. Roadwork Signs B. All except V, and D. All of the above
B. Barriers D. Guide Signs VI

14. Warn or advise of temporary hazardous 21. Standard sign shape: Reserved exclusively for
conditions that could endanger road users or the the STOP sign
men and equipment engaged on roadwork A. Octagon
A. Overhead Signs C. Roadwork Signs B. Circle
B. Barriers D. Guide Signs C. Equilateral triangle, one point vertically
downward
15. Signs which provide means of displaying D. Rectangle with long axis horizontal
essential traffic information on wide multi-lane
roads, where some degree of lane use control is 22. Standard sign shape: Reserved for the GIVE WAY
required, or where side-of-road clearance is sign;
insufficient to accommodate a roadside sign A. Octagon
A. Overhead Signs C. Roadwork Signs B. Circle
B. Barriers D. Guide Signs C. Equilateral triangle, one point vertically
downward
16. Highway appurtenances designed to prevent D. Rectangle with long axis horizontal
vehicular penetration from the travel way to
areas behind the barrier such as to minimize

MAY 2022
Engr. J.A. Margallo
 EXcellence in Professional Engineering
Review and Training Solutions
REFRESHER | Terms

23. Standard sign shape: ANSWER KEY

Mainly used for regulatory signs;
A. Octagon 1. B
B. Circle 2. D
C. Equilateral triangle, one point vertically 3. C
downward 4. A
D. Rectangle with long axis horizontal 5. B
6. A
24. Standard sign shape: 7. C
Used for directional signs, service signs, road 8. D
work signs, signs for special purposes, and 9. B
supplementary plates for warning signs; 10. D
A. Octagon 11. C
B. Circle 12. A
C. Equilateral triangle, one point vertically 13. D
downward 14. C
D. Rectangle with long axis horizontal 15. A
16. B
25. Used as background color for direction signs.
17. A
A. Green C. Blue
18. D
B. Brown D. White
19. B
20. D
26. Used as background color for service signs.
A. Green C. Blue 21. A
B. Brown D. White 22. C
23. B
27. Reserved as background color for all tourist 24. D
facility directional and information signs 25. A
A. Green C. Blue 26. C
B. Brown D. White 27. B
28. D
28. Background color for most signs and legends for
some colored background.
A. Green C. Blue
B. Brown D. White

MAY 2022
Engr. J.A. Margallo