4. 4
Sight distance
Distance a driver can see ahead at any specific time
Must allow sufficient distance for a driver to
perceive/react and stop, swerve etc when necessary
5. 5
Stopping Sight Distance
where:
Db = braking distance
u = initial velocity when brakes are applied
f = coefficient of friction
G = grade (decimal)
t = time to perceive/react
a = vehicle acceleration
g = acceleration due to gravity (32.2 ft/sec2)
Distance to stop vehicle, includes P/R and braking distance
S = 1.47ut + _____u2_____
30({a/g} ± G)
6. 6
Stopping Sight Distance
where:
Db = braking distance
u = initial velocity when brakes are applied
f = coefficient of friction
G = grade (decimal)
t = time to perceive/react
With assumed acceleration, using friction
S = 1.47ut + _____u2_____
30(f ± G)
8. 8
Decision Sight Distance
When situation is unexpected or driver makes unusual
maneuvers or under difficult to perceive situations
Requires higher PIEV time
Depends on type of maneuver made and roadway
setting (urban vs. rural)
10. 10
Passing Sight Distance
Dpassing = d1 + d2 + d3 + d4
d1 = distance traveled during P/R time to point where
vehicle just enters the left lane
d1 = 1.47t1(u – m + at1)
2
where
t1 = time for initial maneuver (sec)
u = average speed of passing vehicle (mph)
a = acceleration (mph/s)
m = difference between speeds of passing and passed
vehicle
11. 11
Passing Sight Distance
Dpassing = d1 + d2 + d3 + d4
d2 = distance traveled by vehicle while in left lane
d2 = 1.47ut2
where:
u = speed of passing vehicle (mph)
t2 = time spent passing in left lane (sec)
12. 12
Passing Sight Distance
Dpassing = d1 + d2 + d3 + d4
d3 = clearance distance varies from 110 to 300 feet
d4 = distance traveled by opposing vehicle during passing
maneuver
d4 usually taken as 2/3 d2
14. 14
Lateral displacement
Experiments showed that the narrower the pavement and the
closer the object to the pavement edge, the greater the
magnitude of lateral displacement.
The relationship between the longitudinal distance l, the lateral
placement of a given object a, and the visual angle is l= a cot
By differentiating both side of equation with respect to time and
22
2222
2
/)(csc/
csc
la
va
dt
d
alaandvdtdl
dt
d
a
dt
dl
V= vehicle’s speed
d/dt= rate of change of
the visual angle
15. 15
Functional classification of
highways
Highways are classified either by
The function they serve (functional classification)
The entity responsible for their construction and
maintenance (jurisdictional classification)
Two concepts are used when classifying
highway by their function
Mobility: continuous travel
Accessibility: direct access to abutting (next to or
adjacent) property
Some roads serve one of these two function
while few can satisfy both
18. 18
Three Major Roadway Classes
and their functions:
Arterial (high mobility, low access,
long trips, fast speeds)
Collector (moderate, moderate,
moderate, moderate)
Local (low, high, short, slow)
19. 19
Roadway Functional Classes
Determined by characteristics:
Function
access density
traffic demands
trip length
expected speed
21. 21
Freeway versus expressway
The distinction between freeways and
expressway is based on the accessibility
control
Freeways have a full control of access [access or
exit are permitted only at controlled locations (exit
ramp)]
Expressways have a partial access control. (access
or exit are maybe permitted directly from or
adjacent land or via a limited number of at grade
intersections)
22. 22
Rural road classification
Principal Arterials
Function: Long disance Travel and
Connect urbanized areas
Characteristics: Long trips, no stubs, high
speed, widely spaced, full/partial access
control
Subclasses: Freeways, Other non-
Freeways with access control
23. 23
Minor Arterials
Function: connect small urban areas
with major trip generators
Characteristics: Moderate everything
(routes, speed, spacing, mostly
mobility)
24. 24
Rural Collectors
Major Collectors: Connect small twon to large towns
not served by arterials, link entities with nearby
arterials, urban areas
Minor Collectors: Serve remaining small towns, link
local traffic generators with rural areas
Characteristics: Shorter, Moderate Speeds (in rural
areas), Intermediate spacing
25. 25
Rural Local Roads
Function: Provide access to land on collector
network, serve short distance travel
Characteristics: Short routes that terminate at
higher classes, relatively low speeds,
intermediate spacing
27. 27
Urban Functional System
Principal Arterials
Functions: carry most trips entering/leaving
urban area, serve intra-urban trips, carry
intra-urban and intercity bus routes, provide
continuity to rural arterials
Characteristics: longest distance routes and
highest volume, high speed, spacing is less
than 1 km in CBD and greater than 8 km in
urban fringe, full/partial access control
Subclasses: interstates, other freeways and
expressways, other principal arterials with
partial access control
29. 29
Urban Minor Arterials
Functions: interconnect with and augment
principle arterials, accommodate moderate
length trips, distribute traffic, carry local
buses, provide intra-community continuity,
connect to urban collectors
Characteristics: moderate trip length high
volumes, moderate speeds, spacing 0.2
to1.0 km in CBD and 3 to 5 km in suburbs
30. 30
Urban Collectors
Functions: Provide traffic circulation within
residential neighborhoods and
industrial/commercial areas, Collect traffic
from locals and channel to arterials, Carry
local buses, Provide some direct land access
Characteristics: Shorter than minor arterials,
Moderate speeds, Spacing intermediate to
arterials, Penetrates residential
neighborhoods
Subclasses: major and minor
31. 31
Urban Locals
Functions: Provide direct access to land,
Connect properties to higher class
streets (i.e., collectors)
Characteristics: Short in length, Dead
end – terminate at collections, Low
speeds, No bus routes
35. 35
Cross section components
Highways are categorized into
Divided highways
Undivided highways
The distinction is based on the viability of median (Divided
highways).
The components of divided highways within the right of way are
Carriageway or travelling lanes
Median
Shoulder
Ditches
Side-slopes
Barrier
Marking
Cross section slope