Lecture 6-1

SIGHT DISTANCE CALCULATIONS

Sight Distance
Stopping sight distance Break reaction time Decision sight distance Passing sight distance Intersection sight distance Criteria for measurement

Lecture 6-1. Geometric Highway Design Spring 2007

Road Stopping Distance

Stopping sight distance (SSD)
Distance to stop when obstruction is sited

Decision sight distance (DSD) > SSD

Detect difficult information and complete maneuver For interchanges and intersections Changes in cross-section Areas of visual noise

Passing sight distance (PSD)

Site distance needed to complete pass knowing there are no potentially conflicting vehicle ahead at the start of the maneuver Single vehicle passing a single vehicle
Lecture 6-1. Geometric Highway Design Spring 2007 2

Geometric Assumption for Stopping

Observer
3.5 feet

Object
2.0 feet

Lecture 6-1. Geometric Highway Design Spring 2007

Stopping Sight Distance (SSD)

US Customary
Break Reaction Time + Breaking Distance
d = 1.47Vt + V2 a 30 32.2 G

d = SSD (ft) V = initial speed (mph) t = break reaction time (sec) a = deceleration rate (ft/s2) G = percent of grade divided by 100 (upgrade is positive, downgrade is negative)

Lecture 6-1. Geometric Highway Design Spring 2007

Stopping Sight Distance (SSD)

Metric
Break Reaction Time + Breaking Distance
V2 d = 0.278Vt + a 254 9.81 G
d = SSD (m) V = initial speed (km/h) t = break reaction time (sec) a = deceleration rate (m/s2) G = percent of grade divided by 100 (upgrade is positive, downgrade is negative)

Lecture 6-1. Geometric Highway Design Spring 2007

Break Reaction Time (t)

2.5-s break reaction time is recommended by AASHTO for use in SSD 2.5-s exceeds the 90th percentile of reaction time for all drivers in somewhat complex situations (3 bits of information in expected to unexpected situations) Longer times are required in calculating decision site distance (DDS) because these types of decision situations are assumed to be more complex

Lecture 6-1. Geometric Highway Design Spring 2007

Deceleration Rate (a)

11.2 ft/s2 deceleration rate is recommended by AASHTO for use in SSD 11.2 ft/s2 is below the 90th percentile of deceleration rates for all drivers Such decelerations are within the drivers capability to stay within his or her lane and maintain steering control during the breaking maneuver on wet surfaces

Lecture 6-1. Geometric Highway Design Spring 2007

Decision Sight Distance (DSD)

US Customary
Break Reaction Time + Breaking Distance
d = 1.47Vt + V2 a 30 32.2 G

d = DSD (ft) V = initial speed (mph) t = total pre-maneuver (and maneuver) time (sec) a = deceleration rate (ft/s2) G = percent of grade divided by 100 (upgrade is positive)

Lecture 6-1. Geometric Highway Design Spring 2007

DSD Maneuver Parameters

Maneuver
A B C D E
Stop on rural road Stop on urban road Speed/path/direction change on rural road Speed/path/direction change on suburban road Speed/path/direction change on urban road

t
3.0 s 9.1 s 10.2 11.2 s 12.1 12.9 s 14.0 14.5 s

breaking distance
include include neglect neglect neglect
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Lecture 6-1. Geometric Highway Design Spring 2007

Geometric Assumption for Passing

Observer
3.5 feet

Object

Lecture 6-1. Geometric Highway Design Spring 2007

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Passing Site Distance (PSD)

Sum of four distances:
d1 distance traversed during perception and reaction time and during the initial acceleration to the point of encroachment on the left lane d2 distance traveled while the passing vehicle occupies the left lane d3 distance between the passing vehicle at the end of its maneuver and the opposing vehicle d4 distance traveled by opposing vehicle for two-thirds of the time the passing vehicle occupies the left lane (2/3 of d2)

Lecture 6-1. Geometric Highway Design Spring 2007

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PSD Formula
at i 2(1.47vt 2 ) PSD = 1.47t i v m + + 1.47vt 2 + d 3 + 3 2
d1 d2 d4
From Exhibit 3-6

ti = initial time of maneuver (s) v = average speed of passing (mph) m = difference of speed of passed and passing vehicle (mph) a = average acceleration (ft/s2) t2 = time passing vehicle occupies the left lane (s)
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Lecture 6-1. Geometric Highway Design Spring 2007

PSD Parameters
30 40 ti (sec) v (mph) a (ft/s2) t2 (sec) 3.6 34.9 1.40 9.3 Speed Range (mph) 40-50 50-60 4.0 43.8 1.43 10.0 4.3 52.6 1.47 10.7 60-70 4.5 62 1.50 11.3

Lecture 6-1. Geometric Highway Design Spring 2007

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Resulting PSD Table

Lecture 6-1. Geometric Highway Design Spring 2007

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Passing on a Grade
Downhill passing is faster, but a racing contest might result. Therefore assume the same distance in your calculations. Uphill passing requires greater distance. Slower acceleration and opposing vehicle travels faster. However, oftentimes slow trucks are being passed. This is a compensating factor. Overall, uphill passing distances should be greater. However, specific adjustments are unavailable according to Green Book.

Lecture 6-1. Geometric Highway Design Spring 2007

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