1.

0 INTRODUCTION
Speed is the rate of movement of a vehicle, generally expressed in kilometers per hour.
A spot speed study is a study of traffic speed at one point or spot on a traffic way. It
consists of a series or a sample of observations of the individual speeds at which vehicles
are approaching an intersection or passing a point at a non-intersection location. These
observations are used to estimate the speed distribution of the entire traffic stream at that
location, under the conditions prevailing at the time of the study.
Spot speed studies can be used to study speeds at problem locations in order to determine
whether speeds are too high and if complaints received are justified, for accident analysis in
order to determine the relationship of speed to accidents which may help in developing
corrective measures, and for before-and-after studies in order to evaluate the effect of some
change in controls or conditions.

2.0 OBJECTIVE
The objectives of this study are:
(a) To determine the speed characteristics of traffic at the study location.
(b) To determine the compliance of drivers to the speed limit.
3.0 APPARATUS
1.
2.
3.
4.

Radar Gun
Forms SS1 and SS2
Graph Paper (3 nos)
Safety Vest

4.1 PROCEDURE
1. Identify the spot at which the speed data will be collected.
2. Use the radar gun to measure the speed of vehicles according to their respective vehicle
class Class 1 (Motorcycles), Class 2 (Cars), Class 3 (Vans & Medium Trucks), and
Class 4 (Large Trucks & Buses).
[Make sure that the operator of the radar gun is not seen by the motorists]
3. Record all speed measurements in Form SS1.
4. Based on Form SS1, determine the mean, maximum and minimum speed of
vehicles according to their class. Comment on your findings.
1

5. Transfer the data in Form SS1 to Form SS2.

6. Plot the following:
(a) Frequency Histogram (Percentage of vehicles vs. Speed)
(b) Frequency Distribution Curve (Percentage of vehicles vs. Speed)
(c) Cumulative Frequency Distribution Curve (Cumulative percentage vs. Speed)
7. Determine the following speed characteristics:
(a) Mean speed
(b) Median speed
(c) Mode speed
(d) 85-th Percentile speed
(e) Standard deviation
(f) Pace
8. Comment on your findings.
9. Does your findings justify the problem of speeding at the location? If it does, what
are your recommendations?
Form SS2
Speed Class
(km/h)
30-39
40-49
50-59
60-69
70-79
80-89
90-99
100-109
110-119

Class
Midvalue, x
(km/h)
34.5
44.5

Class
Frequency, f

54.5
64.5
74.5
84.5
94.5
104.5
114.5

Total

fx

42
57
41
52
27
5
2
1
1

1449
2537
2235
3354
2012
423
189
105
115

228

12419

Formulae
Mean speed = fx n
f = frequency of observations in the particular class x =
mid-point of each class
n = total number of observations = f
n _fL
2

Median speed = L +

fm

xC
2

Percentage
in Class

Cumulative
Percentage

11.64
20.43
18.00
27.00
16.20
3.41
1.52
0.85
0.93

11.67
32.10
50.10
77.1
93.30
96.71
98.23
99.00
100.00

L = lower limit of the class in which the median lies

n = total number of observations
fL = cumulative number of observation up to the lower limit of the class in which the
median lies
fm = number of observations in the class in which the median lies C =
speed interval of the group
Standard Deviation =

fx 2 (fx) 2
n1
n(n 1)

f = frequency of observations in the particular

class x = mid-point of each class
n = total number of observations = f
Terminology
Pace = the 10 km/h range in speed in which the highest number of observation
was recorded
85th Percentile speed = the speed at or below which 85 percent of the motorists drive
on a given road unaffected by slower traffic or poor weather

5.0 DATA AND ANALYSIS

Calculations & Results:
Speed
Class
(km/h)
30-39
40-49
50-59
60-69
70-79
80-89
90-99
100-109
120-119

Class Midpoint
(km/h) (x)
34.5
44.5
54.5
64.5
74.5
84.5
94.5
104.5
114.5

1190
1980
2970
4160
5550
7140
8930
10920
12110

Number of
Observation
(f)
42
57
41
52
27
5
2
1
1

228

fx

fx

1449
2537
2235
3354
2012
423
189
105
115
12419

49980
112860
121770
216320
149850
35700
17860
10920
73110
728370

( a ) MeanSpeed =
Mean Speed =

fx
f

12419
=54.47 km/hr
228

[ ]
( )
[ ]

n
f
(
2)
( b ) Median Speed=L+
fm

228
99
2
Median Speed=50.5+
10
41
Median Speed=54.61 km/hr
(c ) Mode Speed = 50km/hr to 59 km/hr
(d ) 85th Percentage Speed = 65km/hr (refer to the graph Cumulative Frequency Distribution
Curve)

( e ) Standart deviation , =
Standart deviation , =

fx2 ( fx )
n1

n ( n1 )

728570 154231561

2281 228(227)

Standart deviation , =15.1 1 km/hr

(f) Pace = 58 km/hr (refer graph Frequency Distribution Curve)

Class 1 (Motorcycles)
Speed
Class MidClass
point
(km/h)
(km/h) (x)
30-39
34.5
40-49
44.5
50-59
54.5
60-69
64.5
70-79
74.5
80-89
84.5
90-99
94.5
100-109
104.5
110-119
114.5

Number of
Observation
(f)
9
16
8
19
7
1
1
0
0
61

fx
311
712
436
1226
522
85
95
0
0
3387

Mean speed: 55.52

Minimum speed: 30.0 km/h
Maximum speed: 94.0 km/h

Class 2 (Car)
Class MidNumber of
Speed Class
point
Observation
(km/h)
(km/h) (x)
(f)
30-39
34.5
10
40-49
44.5
11
50-59
54.5
10
60-69
64.5
17
70-79
74.5
9
80-89
84.5
2
90-99
94.5
0
100-109
104.5
1
110-119
114.5
0
60
Mean speed: 57
5

fx
345
490
545
1097
671
169
0
105
0
3422

Minimum speed: 30.0 km/h

Maximum speed: 110.0 km/h

Class 3 (Vans & Medium Trucks

Class MidNumber of
Speed Class
point
Observation
fx
(km/h)
(km/h) (x)
(f)
30-39
34.5
17
578
40-49
44.5
13
579
50-59
54.5
11
600
60-69
64.5
9
581
70-79
74.5
5
373
80-89
84.5
1
85
90-99
94.5
1
95
100-109
104.5
1
105
110-119
114.5
0
0
58
3005
Mean speed: 51.81
Minimum speed: 30.0 km/h
Maximum speed: 100.0 km/h

Class 4 (Heavy Trucks & Buses)

Speed
Class MidNumber of
Class
point
Observation
(km/h)
(km/h) (x)
(f)
30-39
34.5
6
40-49
44.5
17
50-59
54.5
11
60-69
64.5
7
70-79
74.5
5
80-89
84.5
1
90-99
94.5
0
100-109
104.5
0
110-119
114.5
0
47

fx
207
757
600
452
373
85
0
0
0
2474

Mean speed: 53
Minimum speed: 30.0 km/h
6

Maximum speed: 85.3 km/h

Graph
Frequency Histogram (Percentage of Vehicles vs. Speed)
Percentage of Vehicles

Percentage of Vehiche
30
25
20
15
10
5
0

Percentage in Vehicle
30
25
20
15
10
5
0

64.5

cummulative percentage versus speed

120

100

80

cummulative prcentage

60

40

20
65
0
20

40

60

80

100

120

6.0 DISCUSSION
A typical layout for conducting a spot speed study using a stopwatch. When selecting a
location and layout, care must be exercised so that the observer can clearly see any vertical
reference posts. The observer should be positioned higher than the study area and be looking
down. The position could be on a bridge or a roadway back slope.
The observer should use reference points to aid in collecting the elapsed time it takes a
vehicle to travel through the study area. The reference point to start timing may be a brightly
coloured vertical post. The reference point to end timing may be a tree or a signpost in the
observers sight line. An accurate sketch of the site should be documented, including number of
lanes, position of observer, and description of reference points.
7.0 RECOMMENDATION
Essential to this initial step is to identify the reason for conducting the study and nature of
the problem to be evaluated. Other considerations for the study plan are the date and time during
which the study should be completed, and the number of vehicles that should be observed as part
of the study. The timing of the study should be consistent with the reason for conducting the
study. For example, if the study is being completed to determine if speed complaints are valid
during the evening rush hour, then the study should be completed during the evening rush hour.
Literature suggests that speed data be collected for a minimum of one hour and observe at least
30 vehicles, however depending upon the type of technology used to complete the study, and the
complexity of the study, sample sizes and durations can often include thousands of vehicles over
multiple 1 days. Once the plan is completed, the study can be carried out and the data can be
evaluated as outlined in the steps below.

8.0 CONCLUSSION
Field traffic studies strengthened the traffic theories presented in the class room. Spot
speed study and intersection analysis and signal assessment helped students gain the following
benefits: Spot speed study and intersection analysis and signal assessment field study
implementations, familiarity with standard procedures and standard forms, data presentation
techniques, data analysis, field experience and applications, group work, professional
presentation skills, interpretations of results, and professional software implementation.
Students presented their suggested solutions to improve the studies intersections such as
signal timing modifications, intersection widening, geometric adjustments, and realignments.
This paper described the minimum requirements for establishing the aforementioned studies and
intended objectives. Future plans are to develop an additional three-hour laboratory to
accompany the transportation engineering class. The laboratory will include additional studies
and projects that will embrace the transportation material taught in the classroom environment.

10