TRAFFIC STUDIES
-generally involve time and may entail much cost
VOLUME STUDIES
a. TRAFFIC VOLUME
-the most basic data needed for any traffic
study
-conducted to obtain factual information on
the number of vehicles and/or persons that
pass at a specified point on the highway
system
*TYPES OF VOLUME
a. Annual traffic
-used for determining annual travel,
estimating highway user revenue, computing
accidental rates
b. Annual average daily traffic (AADT)
-used for measuring the present demand for
service by the road, programming capital
improvements
c. Hourly traffic
-used for evaluating capacity deficiencies,
geometric design or improvement of streets and
intersections
d. Short-term count
-used to estimate maximum flow rate and
determine the characteristics of peak hour volumes
*TYPES OF DATA COLLECTED
a. Mid-block counts
-used for preparing traffic flow maps and
determining trends
b. Directional counts
-used for determining directional distribution
for capacity analysis, signal timing, justifying traffic
control, etc.
c. Turning movement/Intersectional counts
-used for signal timing, designing or
improving geometry of intersection, planning
turning prohibition, analyzing high accident
intersections
d. Classification counts
-used for determining modal split, estimating
effects of heavy vehicles on capacity, determining
correction factors for automatic counts
e. Cordon counts
-used to determine the number of vehicles
and/or persons entering and leaving an enclosed
area
f. Screen line counts
-are classified counts taken at some points
along a line that bisects a given area
*TIME OF STUDY
-time and duration of a traffic volume study
depends on the type and application of the data
being gathered
+Typical counts
a. Twenty-four-hour counts
-from midnight to midnight
b. Sixteen-hour counts
-from 6 AM to 10 PM to represent most of
the daily flow, including evening traffic
c. Twelve-hour counts
-from 6 AM to 6 PM to cover most of
daytime traffic
d. Peak period counts
-from 7 AM to 9 AM, 5 PM to 7 PM, or other
time intervals corresponding to very high
level of traffic volume
e. Short counts
-about one hour or less with intervals of 5-
15 minutes to analyze characteristics of
peak hours
*Abnormal conditions are usually avoided
unless the purpose is to obtain information
concerning those conditions. These would
include:
a. special occasions such as public holidays or
fiestas
b. days with abnormal weather conditions
c. strikes or demonstrations
*METHODS
a. Tallying
-simplest and sometimes more practical
in the absence of any mechanical or
automatic counting device
-tally sheets are used to record the
number of vehicles
-this method may be used when traffic
volume is generally low or when
observing a particular turning movement
whose volume is relatively low
b. Using manual counters
-manual counter is a mechanical device
useful when volume is high
c. Using automatic counters
-when traffic count of very long duration
is required, one may resort to automatic
conters through the use of detectors
-the simplest type of automatic counter
is a pneumatic tube laid transversely
across the road, it is actuated when
tires pass over the tube
-more sophisticated detectors make use
of ultrasonic waves or inductance
loops
d. Using video cameras
-used to take footage of the traffic flow
-counts may then be carried out later
through either tally or manual method
while watching the video
-automatic counts can also be
performed using equipment and
commercially available software for
vehicle tracking
*Presentation of Traffic Volumes
a. Variations
b. Flow maps
c. Intersection diagram
*Spot Speed Studies
+Objective of conducting spot speed
studies are to:
a. Determine the range and magnitude of
speeds as a basis for formulating design
standards
b. Establish maximum and minimum speed
limits
c. Determine the need for posting advisory
speed signs
d. Determine the need for school zone
protection
e. Evaluate the performance of a geometric
improvement or traffic control device
through a “before-an-after” study
*Time of study
-period during which speeds are
measured depends on the purpose of the
study
 Abnormal conditions
-such as adverse weather condition or
unusually heavy traffic condition should be
avoided
-duration of the study should be around an
hour
Short study period
-often lead to bias towards faster vehicles

*Size of Samples
-the speeds of at least 50 vehicles
preferably 100 should be measured
-to cover all representative vehicles,
measurement of every nth vehicle may be
applied
+Possible bias that may be attributed to
representative vehicles
a. Selecting mostly leaders of the platoon
b. Selecting mostly one particular type of
vehicle
c. Selecting faster vehicles

Radar speed meter

-when such instrument is available, the use of radar
is a very convenient way of conducting spot speed
studies
-radar is positioned at the very edge of the roadway
at an angle of about 15° with the centerline and is
directed toward incoming vehicles
Radar
- May be difficult to use when the traffic
volume is high
Radar meter
-often used by police authorities for
apprehending over speeding drivers

Manual Method
+Trap length method
-a very useful and less expensive way of
conducting spot speed studies
-2 line 30-50m apart are drawn transversely on the
pavement