CETB 411 TRANSPORTATION AND

HIGHWAY LABORATORY

Spot speed
GROUP MEMBERS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Atafi Ruwayd HASSAN

Hakami Tariq Mussawi
Khormi Mohammed
Engku Nor Hafiza
Qaysi Faisal Mohammed

CE 087053
CE 087098
CE 088632
CE 089034
CE 088779

SECTION

:2

DATE OF SUBMISSION

: 12 December 2013

~Table of content~
NO.

TITLE

PAGE

1.

Cover page

2.

Table of content

3.

Abstract

4.

Objective and Scope

5.

Preliminary Remark and Theory

6.

Test Specimen

7.

Test Apparatus

8.

Test Procedures

9.

Result

5-6

10.

Calculation and Graphs

6-8

11.

Discussion

8-9

12.

Conclusion

13.

Reference

14.

Appendices

3-4

10-11

2|Page

Abstract:
The purpose of this study is to determine the characteristic of traffic stream
and estimating the distribution of speed in a specific location. Choosing a location is
crucial, selected location should be straight road and free from delay such as
junctions, humps, traffic light or turning. Also, the location have minimum influence
of the observers and road should be level along the travel distance test. So, the
proper location which fit all the requirements mention above is along the link from
Petronas Station to Maybank. Result that obtained is process and analyzes to
determine the characteristic of traffic by plotting the distribution graph and
frequency histogram. The experiment is performed using distance of 50 meters and
time traveled at the distance to spot vehicles speed. While the study is performing,
there are several errors such as weather condition, obstructions, and parallax error
which affecting the result. Therefore, to further improve the data, observers should
measure the sample at the higher ground.

Objective and Scope:

Observe and measure the vehicle speed at a specific location. Vehicles
speed can be determined by observing and measure it manually using
stopwatch and measuring wheel. With the collected data, spot speed
information is to estimate the speed distribution of the entire traffic stream
at the location.

Preliminary Remark and Theory:

This process is referred to as a spot speed study, defined as
measuring a sample of vehicle speeds passing a given location over a period
of time. Establishing safe and reasonable speed limits is an important and
sometimes challenging. Speed restrictions should advise drivers of limits
within which a vehicle can be operated safely under normal conditions and
allow sufficient time to react to unexpected conditions. Properly selected

3|Page

speed limits should facilitate efficient traffic flow, reduce violations, and
promote safe driving conditions.
Spot speed studies are designed to measure speeds at specific
locations under the traffic and environmental conditions prevailing at the
time of the study. Spot speed is the instantaneous measure of speed at a
specific location on a roadway. The applications of the spot speed data are
for determining traffic operation and control, geometric design, accident
analysis and highway capacity computation.
In this study, there are involved statistic equations. Below are the
following equations which involve determining the traffic characteristic:-

Test Specimen:
1. 50 samples of vehicles (Minimum)

Test Apparatus:
1.
2.
3.
4.

1
2
1
1

Measuring wheel
Stop watch
Tape or chalk
Field data survey form

Procedure:

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1) A suitable site location is chosen (site is straight and level road section)
where minimum influence of the observer has.
2) The start and end point of the study distance is marked using chalk or tape.
The distance is set to 50m length
3) Time taken for a vehicle to travel between these two points is measured.
4) The speed samples are taken over period of 1 hour time. (Samples size is 50
vehicle)

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Data, Observation & Result:

SPOT SPEED STUDY
Survey station: Bangi opposite of Maybank branch Distance: 50 meters (0.05 km)
From

: Petronas Station

To

Enumerator : Group

: Maybank branch
Date : 20/11/2013

Time: 1 pm Start: 1.15 pm

End: 1.55 pm

Weather: Sunny

Table 1: 50 samples of vehicles collected on the site with vehicles registration number and time traveled
for distance of 50 meters are recorded

Time,
t
(secon
d)

Vehicl
e No.

Registrati
on No.

4.17

BDE 3165
WMX
1028

WJC 2054

3.66

WQJ 181

3.56

4.47

BBF 61
WQF
7748

WBF 70

3.27

BJD 559

3.43

BGY 9209

4.05

10

BEL 22

2.63

11

CGK 9935
WEQ
9025
WEQ
3445

3.62

BDQ 7811
WBQ
4708

3.12

12
13
14
15

3.28

3.26

2.74
3.59

2.94

Time, T
(hour)
0.00115
8
0.00091
11
0.00101
7
0.00098
89
0.00124
2
0.00090
56
0.00090
83
0.00095
28
0.00112
5
0.00073
06
0.00100
6
0.00076
11
0.00099
72
0.00086
67
0.00081
67

Speed,
v (km/h)

Vehicl
e No.

Registratio
n No.

Time, t
(second
)

43.17

26

MAV 7959

3.69

54.88

27

PGB 5216

3.24

49.18

28

WKT 2302

3.85

50.56

29

TW 1139

3.38

40.27

30

MSB 2259

3.26

55.21

31

WPB 1478

3.27

55.05

32

MAJ 6327

2.74

52.48

33

BDE 896

3.48

44.44

34

WJH 115

4.27

68.44

35

JGM 2000

3.33

49.72

36

WFD 538

3.28

65.69

37

5.89

50.14

38

WCK 1887
PERODUA
1200

57.69

39

WFU 3660

3.49

61.22

40

CAS 3585

4.14

3.75

Time, T
(hour)
0.00102
5
0.0009
0.00106
9
0.00093
89
0.00090
56
0.00090
83
0.00076
11
0.00096
67
0.00118
6
0.00092
50
0.00091
11
0.00163
6
0.00104
2
0.00096
94
0.00115
0
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Speed
,v
(km/h
)
48.78
55.56
46.75
53.25
55.21
55.05
65.69
51.72
42.15
54.05
54.88
30.56
48.00
51.58
43.48

16

JJB 1992

3.48

17

CCG 9111
WNC
5529

2.96

JJB 4784
WNQ
8544
WQD
3002
WMM
1700

2.80

18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25

JGM 4510
HMC
9758

2.80

3.11
3.58
2.27
3.07
4.18

0.00096
67
0.00082
22
0.00077
78
0.00077
78
0.00086
39
0.00099
44
0.00063
06
0.00085
28
0.00116
1
0.00102
5

51.72

41

BJK 9935

4.72

60.81

42

4.21

64.29

43

WMY 4390
PUTRAJAYA
198

64.29

44

WQJ 6561

2.93

57.88

45

JJD 9735

3.35

50.28

46

WHD 425

3.55

79.30

47

PGT 2777

2.63

58.63

48

HWB 8249

4.88

43.06

49

WGM 6526

3.64

WRJ 7628
3.69
48.78
50
BJH 3076
- The fastest speed drove by WCM 7480 is 79.30 km/h
- The slowest speed drove by WVE 17 is 30.56 km/h

3.46

3.04

0.00131
1
0.00116
9
0.00096
11
0.00081
39
0.00093
06
0.00098
61
0.00073
06
0.00135
6
0.00101
1
0.00084
44

Table 2: Raw data (Table 1) are group into table below.

Speed
Interval
(km/h)

Midpoint
Speed, v
(km/h)

Frequency,
f (no.)

30.0034.99
35.00-39.99
40.00-44.99
45.00-49.99
50.00-54.99
55.00-59.99
60.00-64.99
65.00-69.99
70.00-74.99
75.00-79.99

32.50
37.50
42.50
47.50
52.50
57.50
62.50
67.50
72.50
77.50

1
2
7
7
14
9
5
4
0
1

SUM

50

fv

32.50
75.00
297.50
332.50
735.00
517.50
312.50
270.00
0.00
77.50
2650.
00

Cumulati
ve
Frequenc
y (no.)
1

Percenta
ge
Frequen
cy (%)
2

3
10
17
31
40
45
49
49
50

6
20
34
62
80
90
98
98
100

7|Page

38.14
42.76
52.02
61.43
53.73
50.70
68.44
36.89
49.45
59.21

Calculation and Graph:

Graph 1: Below are Frequency Histogram (Columns) and Frequency Distribution Graph (Trend
Line) plotted from Table 1

8|Page

Graph 2: Cumulative Distribution Graph of Percentage Frequency (%) versus Speed, v

(km/h)

Calculation:

Calculate Speed, example from vehicles no.1 from Table 1

From Table 1, we obtained that:-

Refer to Table 2, use speed interval of 30.00km/h 34.99 km/h as example of

calculation of:-

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 Referring to Table 2, Arithmetic Mean Speed can be determine the

equation below:

81.4959 km2/h2

From Graph 1
Modal Speed is the traveled speed values that appear the most in the data,
therefore, between the ranges of 50.00 km/h to 54.99 km/h or midpoint
speed of 52.50 km/h.

From the Cumulative Distribution Graph (Graph 2)

The 15th percentile speed is 41.50 km/h

The 85th percentile speed is 59.00 km/h

Discussion:
From Table 1 that obtained, registration number WMM 1700 drove the fastest,
79.30 km/h and slowest of all is registration number of WCK 1887 at speed of 30.56
km/h. In other words, vehicle which traveled the shorter time to finish the 50 meters
distance vehicle traveled at faster speed. By calculating all the values and average
10 | P a g e

it, the speed average at the link is 52.93 km/h and arithmetic mean speed at
the link is 53 km/h. From Graph 1, it shows that most of the vehicles traveling
(modal speed) at the speed of 50km/h to 54.99 km/h or midpoint speed of
52.50 km/h (Table 2) along the road. From the cumulative distribution graph
(Graph 2), the 15th percentile speed is 41.50 km/h and the 85th percentile
speed is 59.00 km/h.
The data has some error while performing the study. To be specific, Standard
Deviation or error value of this study is 9.028 km/h. This error are come from
varies reasons. One of the major reasons which cause the error is parallax errors.
Therefore, observers are recommended to observe the site at a higher ground
where it able to see 50 meters traveled distance and vehicles without any
obstruction from the view. Another method to improve the data is by averaging the
time vehicle traveled. More than one enumerators measure the traveled time and
averaging it will improve the result. Also, speed sensor should be use in the study
because it is the best solution to determine vehicles speed accurately.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, objective of the experiment is achieved. The study is able to
estimate the distribution and characteristic of the traffic stream with the
approximate average speed of 53.00 km/h at this Petronas Station to Maybank link.
The collected data is fairly acceptable since the error is 9.028 km/h only. The error
can be minimizing if the observers observe the traffic at a higher ground or digital
sensor such as speed sensor is used during the experiment. The speed limit at this
link from Petronas Station to Maybank should be 60 km/h since the 85 th percentile
speed is to be 59.00 km/h as stated above.

References:
1) James H. Banks, Introduction to Transportation Engineering:, 2 nd Edition,
McGraw Hill, 1998.
2) Speed Limits.2001. http://www.ctre.iastate.edu/pubs/itcd/speedlimits.pdf
3) Traffic and Highway Engineering, Nicholes J. Garber and Lester A. Hoel, 3 rd
Edition, PWS Publishing,2002
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Appendix:

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