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2nd Edition
Issue date: July 2008
Glossary of Austroads Terms

First Published February 2008

2nd edition July 2008
© Austroads Inc. 2008
This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968,
no part may be reproduced by any process without the prior written permission of Austroads.
Austroads Project No: TP1330
Austroads Publication No: AP-C87/08
Prepared by
Kieran Sharp and Peter Milne, ARRB Group
Published by Austroads Incorporated

Level 9 Robell House
287 Elizabeth Street
Sydney NSW 2000 Australia
Phone: +61 2 9264 7088
Fax: +61 2 9264 1657
Email: austroads@austroads.com.au
www.austroads.com.au
Austroads believes this publication to be correct at the time of printing and does not accept
responsibility for any consequences arising from the use of information herein. Readers should
rely on their own skill and judgement to apply information to particular issues.
Sydney 2008
Austroads Profile
Austroads’ purpose is to contribute to improved Australian and New Zealand transport outcomes
by:
providing expert advice to SCOT and ATC on road and road transport issues
facilitating collaboration between road agencies
promoting harmonisation, consistency and uniformity in road and related operations
undertaking strategic research on behalf of road agencies and communicating outcomes
promoting improved and consistent practice by road agencies.
Austroads Membership
Austroads membership comprises the six state and two territory road transport and traffic
authorities, the Australian Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and
Local Government, the Australian Local Government Association, and Transit New Zealand. It is
governed by a council consisting of the chief executive officer (or an alternative senior executive
officer) of each of its eleven member organisations:
Roads and Traffic Authority New South Wales

Roads Corporation Victoria
Department of Main Roads Queensland
Main Roads Western Australia
Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure South Australia
Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources Tasmania

Department of Planning and Infrastructure Northern Territory
Department of Territory and Municipal Services Australian Capital Territory
Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government
Australian Local Government Association
Transit New Zealand
The success of Austroads is derived from the collaboration of member organisations and others in
the road industry. It aims to be the Australasian leader in providing high quality information, advice
and fostering research in the road sector.
CONTENTS
1 INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................... 1
2 KEY GLOSSARIES, STANDARDS, GUIDELINES AND REPORTS SOURCED................. 3
3 ORGANISATIONAL ACRONYMS ........................................................................................ 5
4 DEFINITIONS ........................................................................................................................ 6
Austroads 2008
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1 INTRODUCTION
The purpose of Austroads project TP1330 was to develop a Glossary which included terms and
definitions relevant to Austroads members and others involved in the road and transport industry.
The Glossary covers pavement and materials technology, bridge technology, asset management,
heavy vehicle operation (as it applies to road and bridge infrastructure), road safety, traffic
engineering, and transport planning and economics. It also includes a list of organisational
acronyms.
The terms, and their definitions, will be continually checked and new terms, or definitions, included
as deemed necessary.
In developing this Glossary, a large number of reference documents were sourced from Australia,
New Zealand and internationally (e.g. PIARC, ISO, etc.). However, emphasis was placed on terms
and definitions applicable to Australia and New Zealand. The most significant of these documents
is as follows:
Australian Standards 1348-2002

a glossary of terms developed by a project team headed by Mr Ray Gaughan, then of RTA
NSW, at the behest of the then National Bituminous Surfacings Research Group (NBSRG) in
1998 and 1999
a draft glossary of terms used in road network asset management developed by
Laurie B Dowling and Associates for the (then) Austroads Business Systems Program in
March 2000
a draft glossary of terms, specifically applicable to heavy vehicles, developed by
Dr Hans Prem and Euan Ramsay (then of ARRB) in the late 1990s.
Terms from the following Austroads Guide are included:

Pavement Design – A Guide to the Structural Design of Road Pavements
Pavement Rehabilitation – A Guide to the Design of Rehabilitation Treatments for Road
Pavements
Guide to Stabilisation in Roadworks
Asphalt Guide
Guides to Traffic Engineering Practice.
More recent publications being produced under the technical research program were also sourced,
as well as documents such as the Western Australia Road Traffic (Vehicle Standards) Regulations.
A number of terms were sourced from various reports recently published by the National Transport
Commission, including those relating to the current development of performance based standards
for heavy vehicles.
Austroads 2008
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The development of the glossary prepared by the team led by Ray Gaughan, and its relationship to
the terms listed in the AS1348, deserves some explanation. Gaughan et al. produced a draft report
in 1998 which, following comment, was updated to the version produced in 1999. There were a
large number of terms which had definitions the same as those available in AS1348.1-1986 but
also many differences. Similarly, some terms published in AS1348-2002 duplicated those in
Gaughan et al. (1999) whilst other definitions were again different. Whilst time and budget
constraints prevented a cross-checking of all terms in both documents, it appears that the
development of both the Gaughan documents and the two Australian Standards proceeded in
tandem, with both sources being used in the various revisions.
Where definitions of terms in AS1348 and Gaughan et al. (1999) differed, the Gaughan et al. terms
were adopted in this Glossary on the basis that these definitions were more appropriate to
Austroads members and those involved in the management of the road and bridge infrastructure at
both the network and project level.
Following the preparation of the first draft of this Glossary, a great deal of revision has been
undertaken as a result of comments received from various Austroads task forces, review panels
and project groups. Comments were also offered by individual members of road agencies.
There was agreement amongst Austroads members that the glossary did not need to include terms
that are readily available in the Macquarie Dictionary. It was also agreed that the Macquarie
Dictionary would be the reference source regarding the spelling of terms and whether terms are
one word or two words, etc.
It is accepted that it is not possible to develop a Glossary which addresses all the various
stakeholder needs in relation to terms included, the context (pavements, bridges, asset
management, heavy vehicles, etc.) and the definition. However, this Glossary is considered a
reasonable compromise.
Note to second edition
This edition includes amendments to existing terms and addition of a number of new terms and
expanded definitions. A new section 3 covers organisational acronyms.
Austroads 2008
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2 KEY GLOSSARIES, STANDARDS, GUIDELINES AND

REPORTS SOURCED
Austroads 1988-2006, Guide to traffic engineering practice, parts 1-15, NAASRA and Austroads, Sydney,
NSW.
Austroads 1998, Selection and design of asphalt mixes: Austroads provisional guide. APRG Report No. 18.
(Adopted in Guide to Pavement Technology, Part 4B – Asphalt.)
Austroads 2002, Urban road design: a guide to the geometric design of major urban roads, by Arup Group,
AP-G69/02, Austroads, Sydney, NSW.
Austroads 2003, Rural road design: a guide to the geometric design of rural roads; 8th edn., by Arup Group,
AP-G1/03, Austroads, Sydney, NSW.
Austroads 2004a, Pavement design: a guide to the structural design of road pavements. Austroads, Sydney.
(Adopted in Guide to Pavement Technology, Part 2 – Pavement Structural Design.)
Austroads 2004b, Pavement rehabilitation: a guide to the design of rehabilitation treatments for road
pavements. Austroads, Sydney. (Adopted in Guide to Pavement Technology, Part 5 – Pavement
Evaluation and Treatment Design.)
Cebon, D 1999, Handbook of Vehicle-Road Interaction. Swets & Zeitlinger.
Department of Infrastructure Energy and Resources Tasmania 1999, The LIST: Data Compilation
Specifications for Data Sets. Volume 2 The Road Theme. Draft Version 0.2
Gaughan, R, Moss, J, Holtrop, W, Baburamani, PS and Alderson, A 1998, Pavement technology glossary of
terms – 1999. APRG Document 98/04(MA), April.
Gaughan, R, Moss, J, Holtrop, W, Baburamani, PS and Alderson, A 1999, Pavement technology glossary of
terms – 1999. APRG Document 99/12(MA), June.
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 1993, International vocabulary of basic and general
terms in metrology. 2nd Ed. ISO, Geneva.
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 1994, Quality management and quality assurance:
vocabulary. ISO 8402, ISO, Geneva.
National Cooperative Highway Research Program 1996, Application of full-scale accelerated pavement
testing. Synthesis of Highway Practice 235.
National Transport Commission 2004, Interim PBS Road Classification Guidelines. October
National Transport Commission 2006a, Road Transport Legislation – Mass and Loading Regulations.
National Transport Commission 2006b, Road Transport Legislation – Higher Mass Limits Regulations.
National Transport Commission 2006c, Concessional Mass Limits. Bulletin, June.
New South Wales Government 1998, Acid Sulphate Soil Manual.

http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/mao/acidsulphatesoils.htm
New South Wales Government 1998, Total Asset Management Manual. http://www.gamc.nsw.gov.au/tam/
Austroads 2008
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Prem, H, McLean, JR and Edgar, J 2003, PBS Safety Standards for Heavy Vehicles. NRTC/Austroads
Project A3 and A4, Discussion Paper, January.
Standards Association of Australia 1986, Road and traffic engineering – glossary of terms: road design and
construction. AS1348.1.
Standards Australia , Methods of testing soils for engineering purposes. AS1289.
Standards Australia 2002, Road and traffic engineering – glossary of terms. AS1348-2002.
Transit New Zealand 2005, State highway geometric design manual, glossary of terms, Transit New
Zealand, Wellington.
Washington State DOT 2006, Legal Load Limits, Overweight Loads and Pavements and Bridges. June.
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/biz/mats/Folios/TruckLoadsFolio.pdf
Western Australia 2002, Road Traffic (Vehicle Standards) Regulations

Austroads 2008
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3 ORGANISATIONAL ACRONYMS
AAPA Australian Asphalt Pavement Association
AASHTO American Association of State Highway and Transportation
ALGA Australian Local Government Association
ARF Australian Road Federation
ARRB ARRB Group Ltd
ASTM American Society for Testing and Materials
ATF (Austroads) Assets Task Force
BTRE Bureau of Transport and Regional Economics
BTRP (Austroads) Bridge Technology Review Panel
CCAA Cement Concrete and Aggregates Australia
CMAA Concrete Masonry Association of Australia
DIER Tas Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources, Tasmania
DITRDLG Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local
Government
DPI NT Department of Planning and Infrastructure, Northern Territory
DTEI SA Department of Transport, Energy and Infrastructure, South Australia
DTMS ACT Department of Territory and Municipal Services, Australian Capital Territory
IPWEA Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia
IRF International Road Federation
MRWA Main Roads Western Australia
NTC National Transport Commission
PIARC Permanent International Association of Road Congresses (World Road
Association)
PTRP (Austroads) Pavement Technology Review Panel
QDMR Queensland Department of Main Roads
QT Queensland Transport
REAAA Road Engineering Association of Asia and Australasia
RTA NSW Roads and Traffic Authority, New South Wales
SA Standards Australia
SAE Society of Automotive Engineers
SRA State Road Authority
TNZ Transit New Zealand
VicRoads Roads Corporation, Victoria
Austroads 2008
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4 DEFINITIONS
Term Definition
85th percentile Value of a variable characteristic of individuals in a population possessed by
no more than 85% of that population.
A
AADT see annual average daily traffic
abrasion The wearing away of a solid surface by mechanical action.
abrasion resistance The ability of a material to resist abrasion.
ABS see anti-lock (brake system)
absolute maximum A dimension above which the treatment cannot be used under any
circumstances.
absorption The penetration of binder into an aggregate or base pavement.
absorption capacity The maximum rate at which a traffic stream can absorb additional vehicles.
abutment An end support of a bridge or similar structure.
ACAS see automotive collision avoidance system
Accelerated Loading A mobile loading frame which applies power-driven rolling wheel loads to
Facility (ALF) sections of pavement in a manner which simulates the characteristics of traffic
and which is used to study the response of the pavement to this loading.
accelerated pavement The controlled application of a prototype wheel loading, at or above the
testing appropriate legal load limit to a prototype or actual, layered, structural
pavement system to determine pavement response and performance under a
controlled, accelerated, accumulation of damage in a compressed time
period.
acceleration capability The ability of a vehicle to accelerate either from rest or to increase speed on a
road with no grade.
acceleration lane An auxiliary lane used to allow vehicles to increase speed without interfering
with the main traffic stream. It is often used on the departure side of
intersections.
accelerator A chemical additive that increases the rate of attainment of strength of a
Portland cement concrete mix.
acceptable maximum A dimension that is at the upper limit of acceptable dimensions and above
which the treatment can only be used in certain conditions and which may be
associated with certain precautions e.g. signage.
acceptable minimum A dimension that is at the lower limit of acceptable dimensions and below
which the treatment can only be used in certain conditions and which may be
associated with certain precautions e.g. signage.
access The driveway by which vehicles and/or pedestrians enter and/or leave
property adjacent to a road.
access control 1. To prevent vehicles and people crossing property lines by means of
barriers or regulations. 2. To give vehicles and people access at
predetermined locations.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
access driveway A road or driveway extending from the edge of the frontage road to the
property boundary to connect with the first ramp, service area, circulation
roadway or aisle encountered, and carrying one or two-way traffic.
access street A street whose main function is to provide access to a small number of
residential units.
access time see travel time
access way A private road or local street serving very low traffic volumes, whose design
need not be dominated by traffic considerations.
accessibility index Value obtained as a function of an accessibility measure constrained to a
specified range of values.
accessibility measure A measure of the ease with which activities can be reached from a location
using a particular transport system. Note: The appropriate form of measure
will depend on its intended use. In particular, activities that ‘can be reached’
might be taken as all-supplied activities or only those actually chosen, that is
revealed choices. For example, the sum of the number of activities that can
be reached from a location, weighted according to the impedance of travelling
between the location and each activity.
accessible entrance An entrance to a facility or establishment served by a car park, suitable for
pedestrian or wheelchair use by people with disabilities.
accessible travel path An uninterrupted path of travel to or within a building providing pedestrian or
wheelchair access for people with disabilities from a parking space to all
required facilities.
accident see crash
accident blackspot A location which has an abnormally high number or rate of traffic accidents.
accident site An area that includes the site of an incident and the approach and departure
distances of at least 100 m.
accident-type The codified description of the movements occurring in a crash.
accumulated depreciation 1. The part of the original cost of a non-current asset which has been treated
as an expense in successive profit and loss accounts. 2. A measure of the
loss of service potential of an asset since the asset was acquired or
constructed.
acid sulphate soils 1. Soils formed as a result of exposure of pyrite (iron sulphite) in soil to
oxygen. When water passes through such soils acidic water is produced. 2.
Soils containing iron sulfides which, when exposed to oxygen, generate
sulphuric acid.
acidic aggregate Aggregate having a silica content of more than 65% and showing free quartz
crystals.
acidic soil A soil having a pH value less than 7.0.
ACN see automatic crash notification
active warning device A device which changes state to display a warning of a hazard.
actuated control see traffic-actuated control
actuation The electrical action produced by a vehicle (on a vehicle detector) or
pedestrian (on a push button switch) to enable the controller to recognise its
presence.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
adaptive engineering see controller programming
adaptive traffic control ATCS systems respond automatically to fluctuations in traffic flow through the
system (ATCS) use of on-street detectors embedded in the road.
ADAS see advanced driver assistance systems
added filler (silt) Mineral matter, suitable for use in asphalt – at least 75% of which is finer than
75 mm and all of which is finer that 600 mm – which is added to the combined
aggregate of an asphalt mix. Typical materials include hydrated lime, flyash,
cement, cement works flue dust, ground limestone and rock dust other than
that which occurs as a natural component of the combined aggregate.
additive A substance added in small amounts for the purpose of aiding in the
manufacture or handling of a product or modifying the end properties.
adhesion The action by means of which a fluid or plastic substance (e.g. bituminous
binder) sticks to the surface of a solid body (e.g. aggregate).
adhesion agent A substance used for the purpose of improving the adhesion between a
bituminous binder and the aggregate. The term generally refers to adhesion
in the presence of water.
adjusted structural number A pavement strength parameter, being an enhancement of the Modified
(SNP) Structural Number (SNC), developed to address difficulties experienced with
the use of SNC for the description of pavements which incorporate lower
layers of selected subgrade, or which have very thick subbase or lower
subbase layers. The SNP applies a weighting factor, which reduces with
increasing depth, to the subbase and subgrade contributions so that the

pavement strength for deep pavements is not over-predicted. For pavements
less than 700 mm thick the Modified Structural Number (SNC) and the
Adjusted Structural Number (SNP) are virtually the same.
administrative sanction Generally, any formal official imposition of penalty or fine; destruction, taking,
seizure, or withholding of property; assessment of damages, reimbursement,
restitution, compensation, costs, charges or fees; requirement, revocation or
suspension of license; and taking other compulsory or restrictive action by
organization, agency or its representative.
admixture see Modified Structural Number (SNC) and Structural Number (SN)
adsorption The attachment of a bituminous binder to the surface of an aggregate or soil
by molecular forces.
ADR see Australian Design Rules
ADT see average daily traffic
ADT count The average daily number of vehicle/axle counts measured at a count station.
ADT station A traffic-measuring device installed at a specific location.
advance direction sign A sign placed on an approach to, and in advance of, an intersection, junction
or interchange, indicating the direction of routes and destinations beyond the
intersection, junction or interchange.
advance warning sign See warning sign
advance warning signals An active warning device consisting of a warning sign with alternating flashing
yellow displays to warn approaching drivers of their imminent arrival at a
traffic signal installation or of a hazard on, or adjacent to, the road ahead.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
advance warning vehicle A vehicle used at the tail of mobile works to provide advance warning of the
works to following traffic, to divert traffic around the work area and to enable
the driver to alert workers ahead of any impending danger; also referred to as
a tail vehicle.
advanced driver assistance Systems designed to help the driver with the driving task e.g. in-vehicle
systems (ADAS) navigation systems and collision warning systems.
advanced traffic ATMS are based on the integration of sensors, communication tools and
management system computer systems, and incorporate many individual systems e.g. vehicle
(ATMS) actuated traffic signals (that use sensor and control technology to adjust
signal timing to the flow of traffic) and automated toll systems that use smart
cards and vehicle detection devices to reduce stopping times and increase
efficiency.
adverse crossfall A slope on a curved pavement that generates forces detracting from the
ability of a vehicle to maintain a circular path.
advisory speed The recommended maximum speed at which a section of roadway should be
negotiated for comfort and safety.
advisory speed sign Advisory speed signs are a category of warning sign. They are therefore
yellow and diamond shaped with black writing displaying the advisory speed
for an upcoming section of roadway. See also advisory speed.
afflux The rise in water level on the upstream side of a constriction in a stream or
channel relative to the water level on the downstream side.
age hardening A decrease in the penetration and/or increase in viscosity of a bituminous

binder caused by loss of volatiles and oxidation of the binder resulting from
exposure to weather over a period of time.
aggregate A material composed of discrete mineral particles of specified size or size
distribution, produced from sand, gravel, rock or metallurgical slag, using one
or more of the following processes: selective extraction, screening, blasting or
crushing.
aggregate breakdown The disintegration of an aggregate under environmental and/or trafficking
conditions.
aggregate crushing value An indication of the resistance to crushing of an aggregate.
(ACV)
aggregate model 1. A mathematical model of travel behaviour related to a grouping of
individual travel characteristics, usually for a zone or district. 2. A
combination of disaggregate models for the purpose of preparing estimates
for future states.
aggregate retention Long term cohesion and retention of aggregate after adhesion is established.
aggregate spread rate The rate of application of sealing aggregate, expressed in square metres
per cubic metre (m2/m3) of aggregate applied at the loose bulk density in
the truck.
aggregate trailer mass Gross trailer mass (GTM) plus the mass imposed onto the drawing
vehicle when the combination vehicle is resting on a horizontal surface.
agitator (concrete) 1. An item of plant or equipment which is used to mix, transport and
maintain the plastic concrete until it is discharged. 2. Consistent with
common usage, this term is also used (for convenience) in lieu of ‘mobile
batch mixer’.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
AI see artificial intelligence
AID see automatic incident detection
airbag An airbag rapidly inflates in a collision to provide a cushion against hard
interior objects (such as steering wheels).
air suspension system A suspension system in which vertical movement between each axle and
the body of the vehicle is controlled by variations in air pressure in an air
spring and the proportion of the vehicle’s mass borne by the air spring
remains substantially constant despite variations in pressure in the air
spring.
air voids (voids) The spaces within the bulk of a material not occupied by solid matter.
air-entraining agent An admixture which causes minute bubbles of air to be incorporated in a
mix to improve workability and/or frost resistance.
aisle An area used by vehicles to gain access to, and to manoeuvre into and
out of parking or service bays.
alcohol hours High-alcohol hours correspond to the hours in the week in which crash
statistics indicate most drink-driving takes place and low-alcohol hours
represent the remaining hours in the week. Typical high-alcohol hours
are night-time, for example, between 9 pm and 4 am, but hours vary
between jurisdictions and for different days of the week.
alcohol ignition interlock see alcohol interlock
alcohol interlock An alcohol interlock is a small, hand-held breath-testing device fitted to a

vehicle's ignition. The driver must blow into the interlock before
attempting to start the vehicle. If the driver's blood alcohol content (BAC)
is higher than the pre-set level, the vehicle will not start. In addition to
preventing the vehicle from starting, the interlock may record data on the
use of the vehicle and any attempts to circumvent the interlock, such as
roll starting.
algorithm see controller algorithm
alighting The act of leaving a public transport vehicle (other than a ferry).
alignment The geometric form of the centreline (or other reference line) of a
carriageway in both the horizontal and vertical directions.
alignment coordination A road design technique that considers the relationship of the horizontal
and vertical alignments and its influence on safety and the three-
dimensional aspect of the finished carriageway.
alkali-aggregate reactivity A chemical reaction in concrete between alkalis from Portland cement
(reaction) and siliceous minerals in some aggregates. Deleterious expansion of the
concrete may occur.
alkaline soil A soil having a pH value greater than 7.0.
alliance contracting A form of contract partnership or risk sharing taken on by the client and
contracting entity for the common good of all parties.
all-red interval A period of time for the clearance of conflicting movements within the
controlled area, during which only red aspects are illuminated for
conflicting movements.
all-red period see all-red interval
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
ambient noise level The normal or existing level of environmental noise at a given location
and time. It is a composite of noise from all sources.
amenity Relates to the preservation of such characteristics of a neighbourhood,
which make it pleasing to both the passer-by as well as to the resident.
analysis area An area or any group of zones that are combined for the purpose of
making an analysis.
ancillary/own transport Transportation undertaken by an organisation of goods they have
produced or for their own use, where their main business is not
transportation of such goods. This would include transportation by
farmers, manufacturers and retail organisations of goods for their own
use.
angle of repose The angle with the horizontal assumed by the sloping face of a mass of
loose material.
anionic bitumen emulsion A binder material in which the suspended particles are negatively
charged.
anisotropic (material) A material which has properties that vary in different directions.
ANN see artificial neural network
annual average daily traffic The total volume of traffic passing a roadside observation point over the
(AADT) period of a calendar year, divided by the number of days in that year
(365 or 366 days).
annual average weekday The average 24 hour traffic volume on weekdays (Mondays to Thursdays
traffic (AAWT) or Fridays) throughout a 12 month period, at a specific observation point.
ANPR see automatic number plate recognition
anti-lock (brake system) The portion of a brake system that automatically controls the degree of
rotational wheel slip relative to the road at one or more road wheels of
the vehicle during braking.
apparent particle density The mass of a dry particle of aggregate in air divided by its volume,
including all voids.
application rate The amount of material (usually binder) applied to a given area of road
surface. Binder application rate is expressed as litres per square metre
(L/m2), usually expressed at 15o C. Aggregate application rate is
expressed as square metres per cubic metre (m2/m3).
approach That section of road, consisting of one or more lanes, used by vehicles
approaching an intersection or mid-block site.
approach curve A road curve used on the approach to a roundabout, upstream of the
entry curve.
approach nose The end of an island, median or separator, or area between diverging
carriageways, which faces approaching traffic.
approach section(s) A pavement located within 15 m of a bridge (or other structure) where the
(concrete) concrete base is discontinuous, or within a specified distance (generally
15 m) of contract limits.
approach sight distance Stopping distance measured from the driver’s eye height to pavement
(ASD) level on approach to an at-grade intersection. In respect to pedestrian
facilities, the stopping sight distance, measured to the road surface,
required on the roadway approaches to an at-grade pedestrian crossing.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
approach speed The representative speed (usually taken as the 85th percentile) of traffic
approaching a site.
approach width The one-way width of the carriageway on the approach to the
roundabout.
apron The manoeuvring area in front of the service loading dock excluding the
service bay.
aquaplaning A condition occurring on a wet road when the tyres of a moving vehicle
lose contact with the road surface and ride on a film of water.
area parking control A form of parking control where signage is used to delineate an area by
signposting the entries and exits rather than by signposting individual
lengths of kerb with linear parking control signs.
area traffic control A system providing coordinated control of traffic signals over an urban
area by means of a master controller.
area traffic control system see wide area control system
armourcoat (armour plate) The incorporation of a crushed rock or a small size aggregate into the top
of a soft base to tighten up and strengthen the surface.
arrester bed An area of land adjacent to the road filled with a particulate material to
decelerate and stop out-of-control vehicles; generally located on long
steep descending gradients (see emergency escape ramp).
arrival rate The rate at which vehicles arrive at a facility, e.g. traffic signal, parking
station, toll gate.

arrow aspect A masked vehicle aspect that displays an arrow shape when illuminated.
arrow mask A mask placed over a vehicle aspect so that an arrow shape will be
displayed when the aspect is illuminated (see symbolic mask).
arrow-controlled turn A left turn or right turn movement at a signalised intersection that is made
with a green arrow display, and therefore is unopposed (see unopposed
turn, full control, partial control).
arterial demand A feature of traffic signal controllers whereby a permanent demand is
placed for a particular phase or signal group (see recall feature).
arterial road A road that predominantly carries through traffic from one region to
another, forming principal avenues of travel for traffic movements.
arterial road (rural) A general term for the main road carrying mostly long-distance traffic, as
distinct from local traffic.
arterial road (urban) A general term for a main traffic route, but specifically referring to certain
streets so designated in a local authority’s district scheme.
articulated vehicle Combination of prime mover and semi-trailer.
artificial intelligence (AI) Involves the science and engineering of making intelligent machines,
especially intelligent computer programs.
artificial neural network Artificial neural networks are non-linear statistical data modelling tools.
(ANN) They can be used to model complex relationships between inputs and
outputs or to find patterns in data.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
aspect A single optical system (circular, arrow, or symbolic) on a signal face
capable of being illuminated at a given time. Red, yellow, green and
white aspects are used for vehicle movements (see pedestrian aspects,
bicycle aspect, special vehicle aspects, lantern).
aspect signal indication That portion of the optical system on a traffic signal head (e.g. red circle,
green arrow) illuminated or displayed at any one time.
asphalt (used rather than A mixture of bituminous binder and aggregate with or without mineral
the US term ‘asphaltic filler, produced hot in a mixing plant, which is delivered, spread and
concrete') compacted while hot.
asphalt pavement A pavement, the predominant structural strength of which is provided by
asphalt layers.
asphaltenes Constituents of bitumen soluble in carbon disulphide, but insoluble in
aromatic-free low-boiling petroleum spirit, such as n-heptane.
assessment The technical process of identifying the outcomes of a particular action or
proposal, compared with their intentions or objectives (cf. evaluation).
asset A physical component of a road system or network. An asset is
considered worthy of separate identification if it delivers services or
benefits to the community of sufficient current or future value to warrant
control and management on an individual basis. Typical assets include
sections of pavements, bridges, culverts, traffic signals, signs, road
furniture, road reserves, etc.
asset inventory A list of assets considered worthy of identification as discrete assets, with
information such as location, design standard, construction date,
maintenance history, configuration, condition, and technical details.
asset management A systematic process of effectively maintaining, upgrading and operating
assets, combining engineering principles with sound business practice
and economic rationale, and providing the tools to facilitate a more
organised and flexible approach to making decisions necessary to deliver
optimal community benefits.
asset management strategy A corporate statement of a medium to long term goal for the
comprehensive maintenance of a group of assets (e.g. road network),
supported by processes for the development and implementation of
plans and programs for asset creation, operation, maintenance,
rehabilitation/replacement, disposal and performance monitoring to
ensure that the desired levels of service and other operational objectives
are achieved at a minimum cost.
ATCS see adaptive traffic control system
at-grade crossing Crossing at the same level, such as a railway crossing that is at the
same level as a road, or a normal road intersection.
ATMS see advanced traffic management system
Atterberg limit(s) A set of arbitrarily defined boundary conditions in soils related to water
content. The limits are as follows: 1. Liquid limit: the moisture content at
which a soil passes from the liquid state to the plastic state, as
determined by a specific test procedure. 2. Plastic limit: the moisture
content at which a soil passes from the plastic state to the semi-solid
state, as determined by a specific test procedure. 3. Shrinkage limit: the
moisture content from which a soil will continue to dry out without further
change in volume.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
attitude Attitudes are positive, negative or neutral views of an "attitude object":
i.e. a person, behaviour or event. Attitudes can be strong predictors of
behaviour, but behaviour is also moderated by other internal and external
factors.
attraction see trip production and attraction
attribute A characteristic property of an object.
audio-tactile paving Raised or specifically textured strips typically installed on the edge line
(or in some cases centreline), generating noise and vibrations through
vehicles in order to alert drivers that they are leaving their lane, and
encouraging them to return to their lane.
audit A systematic inspection or checking of methods employed in carrying out
an activity.
Australian Design Rule An Australian Design Rule for motor vehicle safety and emissions as
(ADR) endorsed by the Australian Transport Council.
Austroads The association of Australian and New Zealand road transport and traffic
authorities whose purpose is to contribute to the achievement of
improved road transport outcomes.
AustStab Australian Stabilisation Industry Association
automatic coupling The coupling of rolling stock together without manual assistance. This
generally takes the form of mechanical coupling to convey drawbar
forces but can include both electrical and pneumatic coupling of

passenger vehicles, the action of which is completed by bringing the
units together but uncoupling requires some additional action such as
lifting an uncoupling rod.
automatic crash notification Designed to automatically notify a central location (e.g. emergency
(ACN) services) of moderate to severe frontal, rear or side-impact vehicle
crashes. Strategically placed sensors relay crash severity information
and metrics to assist in determining the appropriate emergency
personnel, equipment and medical facility support needed.
automatic incident detection These systems use algorithms to analyse traffic data and quickly detect
(AID) incidents so as to reduce their adverse effects.
automatic leveller A system to control automatically the longitudinal and transverse profile
of the material being spread by a paving machine, grader or milling
machine, etc.
automatic number plate Optical character recognition software is used to convert images of
recognition (ANPR) vehicle registration numbers into information for real time or retrospective
matching with law enforcement and other databases.
automatic traffic count A traffic count obtained by machines or through the application of
technology, rather than by manual recording (see recording traffic
counter).
automatic vehicle Typically use of axle loads and spacing to identify vehicle type as they
classification (AVC) pass on a highway without any interaction with the driver.
automatic vehicle Addition of markings or other devices to a vehicle to allow the vehicle to
identification (AVI) be uniquely identified by automatic scanning equipment.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
automatic vehicle location A means for determining the geographic location of a vehicle and
(AVL) transmitting this information to a point where it can be used.
automatic vehicle Involves the use of a combination of on-board electronics for vehicle
monitoring (AVM) diagnostics and location determination, communications with a control
centre, and software at the control centre to monitor vehicle and system
performance and to assist control centre personnel to manage system
operations.
automotive collision Designed to provide visual and audible warnings to drivers if an imminent
avoidance system (ACAS) crash is detected. The system also provides visual cues to help the driver
maintain a safe distance when following other vehicles.
auxiliary lane A portion of the carriageway adjoining the through traffic lanes, used for
speed change or for other purposes supplementary to through traffic
movement.
availability A measure of the probability in signal maintenance that the equipment
will be available for use, determined as MTBF/(MTBF + MTTR) where
MTBF = mean time between failures and MTTR = mean time to repair.
AVC see automatic vehicle classification
average daily traffic (ADT) ADT is a sample of the AADT and is the traffic count averaged over a
particular month, a week or a few days.
average deceleration Number determined by dividing the square of the initial vehicle speed by
twice the stopping distance expressed in compatible units.
average design speed The weighted average of the design speeds within a road section, in
which each subsection within the section is considered to have an
individual design speed.
average least dimension The average height of the aggregate particles when they are spread as a
(ALD) single layer with their least dimensions vertical.
average overall travel The summation of the distances travelled by all vehicles or a specified
speed class of vehicle over a given section or road during a specified period of
time, divided by the summation of overall travel times for those vehicles.
average recurrence interval The average interval of time during which an event will be equalled or
(ARI) exceeded once. It should be based on a lengthy period of records of the
event. The term replaces recurrence interval.
average speed see running speed
average spot speed The arithmetic mean of the speeds of all traffic, or components thereof,
at a specified point, during a specified period of time.
average traffic density The arithmetic mean of the traffic densities measured over a specified
period of time.
average weekday daily Taken as the average 24-hour count over the period from Monday to
traffic (AWDT) Sunday. It is often considered because the longer the counting period
used to observe a traffic stream, the better the resulting estimates of
design parameters such as AADT.
average weekday traffic The total traffic volume for all of the weekdays (Monday to Friday) less
(AWT) public holidays, Saturdays and Sundays in a stated period, divided by the
number of such days in that period.
Austroads 2008
— 15 —
Term Definition
AVL see automatic vehicle location
AVM see automatic vehicle monitoring
axle One or more shafts, positioned in a line across a vehicle, on which one
or more wheels intended to support the vehicle turn.
axle counts The numbers of actuations on an axle sensor such as a pneumatic tube
as the wheels of vehicles cross over the sensor.
axle group A set of closely spaced axles acting as a unit.
axle group load The load applied to a pavement by an axle group.
axle load That portion of the total vehicle load transmitted to the road through a
single axle.
axle load limit Restrictions on how much load can be carried on an axle, single or dual
tyres, and on the vehicle or vehicle combinations.
axle mass The total mass axle load transmitted to the road by all the tyres fitted to
an axle group.
axle pair counts One half of the number of axle counts. It is used as an indication of the
number of vehicle counts. Axle pair counts are always less than the
number of vehicles and can only be an approximate indication because a
traffic stream will have vehicles with more than two axles. A correction
factor is usually applied after calibration.
B
b85 vehicle The design vehicle whose physical dimensions represent the 85th
percentile class of all cars and light vans on the road.
b99 vehicle The design vehicle whose physical dimensions represent the 99.8th
percentile class of all cars and light vans on the road.
BAC see blood alcohol concentration
backboard see target board
back-calculation As applied to structural pavement assessment, the process by which the
elastic moduli of pavement layers is calculated using surface deflection
bowl data.
backfill Fill placed in an excavation.
background intensity The luminous intensity of the signal background.
backhoe (digger) A tractor-based wheeled excavator with a hydraulic digging arm mounted
at the rear of the machine.
backlog Works required but unfunded due to budget constraints.
backscatter mode (nuclear The deflection of radiation or particles by scattering through angles
meter) greater than 90o with reference to the original direction of travel.
baghouse An arrangement of fabric bag filters assembled in an airtight unit
designed to remove dust during a manufacturing process.
balanced transport system see equitable transport system
ball coupling A coupling comprising a coupling ball and a complementary coupling
body (assembly).
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
ballast 1. Broken stone of about 100 mm maximum size used generally as a
foundation course. 2. The material added to a roller to increase its mass.
balling The result of a cationic emulsion adhering to the finest particles in a mix
with dirty aggregate, so that balls of bitumen and fines occur and the
larger stones remaining uncoated.
bandwidth The amount of green time common to all signals along the route in a
coordinated system (green band). This can be determined as the time
between the first and the last vehicle, travelling at the design speed,
which can pass through a coordinated system of signals receiving a
green signal on arrival at each stop line.
bank An embankment or fill in the line of a road.
Barnes Dance see scramble-crossing phase
barrier An obstruction placed to prevent vehicle access to a particular area.
barrier kerb A kerb with a profile and height sufficient to prevent or discourage
vehicles moving off the carriageway.
barrier line A pair of longitudinal lines marked on the carriageway to prohibit
overtaking movement in one or both directions.
barrier rail A permanent barrier to prevent vehicles leaving the road; also known as
vehicle barrier.
basalt A hard igneous rock composed mainly of plagioclase feldspar and
pyroxene. Used for aggregate in pavements and concrete.

base (basecourse) One or more layers of material usually constituting the uppermost
structural element of a pavement and on which the surfacing may be
placed. It may be composed of fine crushed rock, natural gravel, broken
stone, stabilised material, asphalt or Portland cement concrete.
base dimension The value of a particular design dimension before any operating
clearances has been added.
base traffic That traffic already present on a facility, or that traffic unlikely to be
affected by design changes.
basic capacity Capacity of a road or area to accommodate moving and/or stationary
vehicles with regard to the need to maintain specified environmental
standards.
basic desired speed The speed adopted by a driver or drivers when not influenced by the
presence of other drivers or restrictive road alignment features.
basic lanes Those lanes forming the minimum number of lanes designated and
maintained over a significant length of route, irrespective of changes in
traffic volume and the requirements of lane balance.
batch The quantity of materials mixed at the same time.
batching The process of combining the ingredients of a mix in fixed proportions by
mass or by volume.
batching plant Mechanical equipment for measuring, by mass or volume, the quantities
of various ingredients to make up each complete charge of a mixer.
Austroads 2008
— 17 —
Term Definition
batter 1. The uniform side slope of walls, banks, cuttings, etc. Usually
expressed as a ratio of horizontal to vertical. 2. The amount of such
slope or rake, usually expressed as a ratio of horizontal to vertical,
distinct from grade. 3. To form a uniform side slope to a wall, bank, or
cutting.
batter rounding Curvature that is applied to improve the stability and appearance of the
road at the intersection of the extension of the road crossfall and/or
existing surface (hinge point), with the batter slope of an embankment or
cutting.
B-double An articulated vehicle hauling two semi-trailers with the rear semi-trailer
superimposed onto the front semi-trailer of the articulated vehicle. This
is achieved by the use of a fifth wheel permanently located towards the
rear of the front semi-trailer.
bearing capacity The maximum average contact pressure between the foundation and the
soil which will not produce shear failure in the soil.
bedding (bed) (capper A layer of suitable material placed on a foundation to provide uniform
layer, working platform) support for a structure.
behavioural costs Costs that influence behaviour (especially travel), which may be real or
perceived costs and which, when identified, would be used in travel
behavioural models.
bench A ledge constructed in a batter or natural slope for the purpose of
providing adequate horizontal sight distance, greater security against

batter slippage or to assist with batter drainage.
benchmark A defined mark of a permanent nature, the level of which, relative to
some datum, has been determined or assumed, and to which the level of
other points may be related.
benchmarking The process of measuring performance and analysing practices in key
areas and comparing them to other similar operations or functions, to find
ways of achieving better results.
benefit/cost ratio (BCR) The ratio of the discounted benefits over the life of a project to the
discounted capital costs, or the project’s discounted total agency costs.
benign alternative Means of reducing traffic congestion without large capital expenditures
e.g. staggered work hours and flexible work hours.
Benkelman beam An instrument for measuring the deflection of the surface of a pavement
caused by the passage of a dual-tyred single axle carrying a standard
axle load.
berm 1. An area between the kerb and footpath or between the footpath and
property boundary. 2. NZ: The edge of a road reserve between the kerb
or surface water channel and property boundary, exclusive of the
footpath. 3. A narrow shelf, path, or ledge formed typically at the top or
bottom of an earth slope. 4. A mound on the outer edge of a road above
a fill batter to protect the batter from erosion.
bias error An indication of whether a device is systematically measuring high or low
when compared to a reference set of measures.
Austroads 2008
— 18 —
Term Definition
bicycle A vehicle with one or more wheels that is built to be propelled by human
power through a belt, chain or gears (whether or not it has an auxiliary
motor), and includes a pedicab, penny-farthing and unicycle; but not a
wheelchair, wheeled toy or any vehicle with an auxiliary motor capable of
generating a power output over 200 watts.
bicycle aspect A masked aspect that displays a bicycle symbol when the aspect is
illuminated (see bicycle signal face).
bicycle parking facility An area or a structure used for the parking, storage or securing of
bicycles, which provides a defined level of security for the bicycle in
accordance with the security classifications given in AS 2890.3.
bicycle path A path or path section intended for the exclusive use of cyclists,
generally referred to as an exclusive bicycle path.
bicycle signal face A signal face for the control of bicycle movements that consists of two
bicycle aspects (red, green) or three bicycle aspects (red, yellow, green)
(see bicycle aspect).
bicycle/car parking lane A lane combination used on roads where one section is designated for
the exclusive use of cyclists and the other for motor vehicle parking.
bind To fill the interstices between small stones or coarse gravels with finer
material to provide mechanical and physical bonding.
binder 1. A material used to fill the interstices between small stones or coarse
gravels. It provides mechanical, chemical and physical bonding and
holds the aggregate particles together as a coherent mass. 2. A

manufactured material used in small amounts in stabilisation to change
the properties of the existing material. 3. A bituminous material used for
waterproofing the surface and holding an aggregate layer to the base.
binder allowance An allowance used to modify the basic binder application rate to account
for existing surface texture, traffic, grade, absorption by base and/or
aggregate and for embedment.
binder application rate The rate of application of a bituminous binder at a given temperature and
including, where applicable, the polymer or scrap rubber additive. In
specifications, the binder application rate is expressed in L/m2 at 15oC.
In stabilisation, the rate of binder applied to the untreated material in
terms of kg/m2 or percentage by mass of the road material.
binder hardening (binder The increase in viscosity over time due to oxidisation, steric hardening,
oxidation) etc.
BIPS see bus information and priority system
bitumen A very viscous liquid or a solid, consisting essentially of hydrocarbons
and their derivatives, which are soluble in carbon disulphide. It is
substantially non-volatile and softens gradually when heated. It
possesses waterproofing and adhesive properties. It is obtained from
native asphalt or by processing the residue from the refining of naturally
occurring crude petroleum.
bitumen emulsion A liquid product in which a substantial amount of bitumen (with which
some oil may be mixed) is suspended in a finely divided condition in
water by means of emulsifying and stabilising agents.
bitumen emulsion breaking The separation of a bitumen emulsion into free bitumen and water. The
process is accompanied by a colour change from brown to black.
Austroads 2008
— 19 —
Term Definition
bitumen rubberised seal A sprayed seal where the binder consists of bitumen modified by the
incorporation of rubber, either natural or synthetic.
blackspot see accident blackspot
blanket drain A drainage layer extending full width across a pavement to intercept
rising water and prevent it from entering the pavement.
blank out sign (BOS) A blank-out sign only displays its message when activated. When not
activated, the sign face is blank.
blast furnace slag A non-metallic product consisting essentially of silicates and alumino-
silicates of lime, produced simultaneously with iron in a blast furnace.
blasting The use of explosives for excavating rock, demolition and other
purposes.
bleeding 1. A surface defect in which an excess of binder completely covers the
aggregate. It results from the upward migration of the binder, due to a
combination of traffic action, warm temperatures and other factors. It
leads to a loss of surface texture. 2. The escape of water from freshly
placed concrete to the surface or the escape of mortar through small
gaps in the containing formwork.
blind aisle A parking aisle closed at one end.
blinding The process by which a thin layer of suitable material is spread on the
surface of a layer to absorb excess binder, to assist in remedying a
slippery or loose condition, or to fill excess surface voids.

BLIP see bus lane with intermittent priority
block cracking Cracking of the surface layer typified by approximately rectangular
shapes which is associated with shrinkage cracking from cemented
pavement materials or subgrades subject to volume changes.
blood alcohol concentration Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is a measurement of the amount of
(BAC) alcohol in the body which is measured in grams of alcohol per 100
millilitres of blood (g%).
blown bitumen A harder grade of bitumen produced from a softer grade by controlled
oxidation, normally by ‘air blowing’ at an elevated temperature.
bollard A post of stout appearance used on a traffic island, pedestrian refuge or
beside a roadway to deter vehicles from encroaching into a pedestrian
area.
bond The property of mechanical interlock between particles arising from their
shape and disposition relative to each other.
boning The operation of setting out levels by sighting over boning rods whereby,
from two given points, other points at the same level, or on the same
gradient, may be established.
bony surface An open textured surface of an unsealed road or shoulder caused by a
lack of fines. Also used to describe asphalt or concrete which has
segregated during mixing and placement.
BOOT see build, own, operate and transfer form of project/contract delivery
Austroads 2008
— 20 —
Term Definition
border The area between the carriageway and the property line. It allows
provision for services, footpaths, cycle paths, shared paths, street trees
and street furniture. Additional width will be required for bus bays or
where major transmission services are to be provided in the verge. It
includes the shoulder if provided.
bore (bore hole, drill hole) A hole produced in the ground by drilling or driving for geotechnical
investigation or to give access to underground water supplies.
borrow Fill obtained by excavating at some point other than cuttings required for
construction of the road.
borrow pit An excavation located outside the formation limits used to obtain fill.
BOS see blank out sign
BOT see build, operate and transfer form of project/contract delivery
boulder A stone or piece of rock of large size, usually larger than 200 mm.
bound material A granular or subgrade material to which binders such as lime, cement or
bitumen are added to improve structural stiffness.
bound pavement A pavement composed of materials incorporating sufficient amounts of
chemical agent(s) to produce significant structural stiffness and improve
the load bearing capacity.
boundary see property line
boundary line see property line

box culvert A culvert of rectangular cross-section.
box cutting That portion of the road where both sides are in cut.
boxing (pavement The space formed between the shoulders above the level of the
construction) subgrade when the shoulders are constructed. Full width construction is
preferred to boxed construction if there are no constraints on pavement
width and level.
brake reactive suspension Suspension in which there is a transfer of vertical loading from one axle
to another axle in the same axle group due to the application of brakes.
braking distance The distance a vehicle travels in the time between the application of the
brakes and when it stops.
braking force The negative longitudinal force resulting from braking torque application.
braking force coefficient The ratio of the braking force to the vertical reaction on a locked wheel
friction testing device. The values obtained will depend on the type of
equipment and the way in which it is used.
bridge A structure designed to carry a road or path over an obstacle by
spanning it.
bridge management system A systematic approach to maintenance inspection, planning, budgeting
and work, usually supported by software to assist in organising and
analysing data on bridge inventory and condition as well as maintenance
activities (e.g. type, costs, productivity, location, history, etc.).
brief The client’s requirements for a specific proposal of work.
Austroads 2008
— 21 —
Term Definition
British portable skid A portable, dynamic pendulum device which measures the energy
resistance tester (pendulum absorbed by a rubber pad as its edge slides over a test surface. The
tester) tester may be used in the field and in the laboratory. It is useful for
confined areas such as road markings and footpaths.
brittle (material) A material which has a low toughness and is subject to cracking or
fracture under deformation.
broken back curve Two horizontal curves in the same direction separated by a short straight
(a special case of the compound curve).
broken stone Natural rock, gravel, or pebbles broken to suitable size for use in civil
construction.
brooming The process of distributing aggregate over the surface of a pavement, or
removal of loose material from a pavement surface prior to, or after, the
application of a bituminous treatment.
build, operate and transfer A form of project financing, wherein a private entity receives a
form of project/contract concession from the private or public sector to construct, and operate a
delivery (BOT) facility for a specified period, often as long as 20 or 30 years. After the
concession period ends, ownership is transferred back to the granting
entity.
build, own, operate and A BOOT funding model involves a single organisation, or consortium
transfer form of (BOOT provider) building, owning and operating the scheme for a
project/contract delivery defined period of time and then transferring this ownership across to an
(BOOT) agreed party. Customers (usually government) enter into long term
supply contracts with the BOOT operator and are charged accordingly for
the service.
bulk density Mass per unit volume including voids in a material.
bulk particle density 1. Mass of a saturated surface-dry particle of aggregate in air divided by
its volume including all voids, both permeable and inaccessible to water.
2. Mass of a dry particle of aggregate in air divided by its volume
including all voids, both permeable and inaccessible to water.
bulking The increase in volume of a material resulting from disturbance or from
changes in its condition, for example from excavation.
bunching Characteristic of traffic flow under certain conditions in which some
vehicles tend to travel together at relatively small headways (typically
less than 4 or 5 seconds).
bund An earth embankment used to direct and contain the flow of water or a
fluid, or an earth structure built into a marine environment.
bus bay An auxiliary lane of limited length at a bus stop or terminus usually
indented into the shoulder or verge.
bus information and priority An advanced ITS system providing real-time information on bus arrivals.
system (BIPS) Also used to implement priority for buses.
bus lane A bus lane can be integrated with the trafficked carriageway and adjoin
other traffic lanes, be segregated from the trafficked carriageway by
kerbs, shoulders and/or barriers, or be segregated from other traffic and
combined with another bus lane (usually in the opposing direction) to
form a busway.
bus lane or bus way Traffic lane reserved for, or primarily used by, buses.
Austroads 2008
— 22 —
Term Definition
bus lane with intermittent With BLIP, other traffic can make use of the lane as normal. As a bus
priority (BLIP) approaches, other vehicles are instructed to safely leave the lane (or are
prevented from entering the lane), yielding right-of-way to the bus.
Dynamic signage may be used to communicate the status of the BLIP to
other users of the roadway.
bus priority Means by which buses are given an advantage over other traffic; for
instance, by traffic signal pre-emption measures or by freeway entrances
or bus lanes that give priority to buses.
busway Roadway reserved for buses only. Right-of-way for the exclusive use of
buses and emergency vehicles (see bus lane).
butt joint (concrete) A joint between a base slab and other parts of the pavement without any
gap, dowels or tie bars.
buttress A strengthening rib at right angles to and monolithic with a wall on the
opposite side to lateral thrust and provided for the purpose of resisting
such thrust.
bypass An alternative route which enables through traffic to avoid urban or
congested areas, or other obstructions to movement. Usually to divert
heavy vehicles away from residential areas.
bypassable traffic The traffic which can be diverted from a particular road or area because
drivers do not wish to stop on that road or in that area.
C
cable linking see local interlinking
cableless linking A mode of signal coordination in which linking is achieved by reference to
an accurate clock in each signal controller. The clocks are initially set to
exactly the same time and maintained in synchronism by reference to the
mains supply frequency. The clock initiates the operation of a certain
plan at a certain time of day and day of week, according to a
predetermined schedule.
caisson A hollow structure for keeping water or soft ground from flowing into an
excavation.
calibration A set of operations that establish, under specified conditions, the
relationship between values of quantities indicated by a measuring
instrument or measuring system, of values represented by a material
measure or a reference material, and the corresponding values realised
by (measurement) standards.
California Bearing Ratio The ratio, expressed as a percentage, between a test load and an
(CBR) arbitrarily defined standard load. This test load is required to cause a
plunger of standard dimensions to penetrate at a specified rate into a
specifically prepared soil specimen.
camber (superelevation) The transverse convexity given to the surface of a carriageway or
footway.
CAMs Chevron alignment markers - see chevron board
Austroads 2008
— 23 —
Term Definition
capacity The maximum sustainable flow rate at which vehicles or persons
reasonably can be expected to traverse a point or uniform segment of a
lane or roadway during a specified time period under given roadway,
geometric, traffic, environmental, and control conditions; usually
expressed as vehicles per hour, passenger cars per hour, or persons per
hour.
capacity indicator In assessing capacity restraint, curves relating the volume/capacity ratio
to speed are used. Different curves are used for different types of roads
or different land uses and the capacity indicator for a link identifies which
curve is to be used for that particular link.
capacity restraint Process by which the assigned volume on a link is compared with the
practical capacity of that link and the speed of the link adjusted to reflect
the relationship between speed, volume and capacity. The procedure is
repeated until a realistic balance is achieved.
cape seal 1. A treatment consisting of a slurry seal over a sprayed seal providing
an asphalt-like appearance. 2. A treatment involving the placement of an
open course sprayed seal followed by filling of the voids with one or two
applications of slurry. The result is an asphalt-like appearance.
capillary water Water drawn upwards into soil pores and held by surface tension.
capitalisation The process of bringing to account all expenditures of a capital nature in
the determination of asset values.
capping layer (earthworks) A Type A material layer of low permeability placed immediately below the
permanent subbase or selected material to maintain constant moisture
content in the material below the capping layer.
captive riders Persons limited by circumstance to use one mode of transportation (see
public transport captive). Note: Generally, captive drivers do not own or
drive a motor vehicle and must depend on public or specialised transit.
car availability see car ownership
car occupancy The average number of occupants, including the driver, per passenger
car.
car ownership Number of cars owned per unit, i.e. ‘x’ cars per 1000 people or ‘y’ cars
per household.
car park A place usually in the open air, where cars may be parked. Also
commonly referred to as a parking lot.
car-owning household Household in which at least one member has a car available for regular
personal use, whether owned outright, subject to hire purchase,
borrowed or owned by a company or a government authority.
car-pooling Pre-arranged ride-sharing of a car trip for the purpose of commuting.
The car is usually provided by the driver.
carriageway That portion of a road or bridge devoted particularly to the use of
vehicles, inclusive of shoulders and auxiliary lanes.
cast-in-place (concrete) Concrete which is cast directly into its final position.
casualty Someone who is injured or killed in an accident.
Austroads 2008
— 24 —
Term Definition
catch drain A surface channel constructed along the high side of a road or
embankment outside the batter. Its role is to intercept surface water and
direct it away from the slope.
catch pit (sump) A concrete pit at the end of a water channel used to settle out solids
before the flow enters a pipe drain. A hole or depression into which
water is drained.
catchment area That area determined by topographical or equivalent features upon any
part on which rain falling will contribute to the flow of the drainage feature
at the point under consideration.
category analysis In trip-generation analysis, households that are cross-classified by those
variables influencing the amount of traffic generated, such as car
ownership, income and family size and composition.
cationic bitumen emulsion A type of bitumen emulsion in which the suspended particles are
positively charged.
cationic rapid setting An emulsion grade that breaks down rapidly (as little as three minutes)
and so cannot be mixed with aggregate in warm climates. It is useful for
seal and tack coats.
cats eye Raised pavement marker with reflectors, fixed in the carriageway.
causeway A raised carriageway across wet or low areas or across tidal water.
cement A general term for substances that bind aggregates. In concrete work
the term normally refers to Portland cement.

cement M4 (NZ) M4 basecourse that has been cement stabilised.
cement stabilisation The controlled application of cement to improve the load-carrying
capacity of a pavement layer (usually the basecourse) or of the
subgrade.
cemented materials Those produced by the addition of cement, lime or other hydraulically
binding agents to granular materials in sufficient quantities to produce a
bound layer with reduced moisture susceptibility, increased compressive
strength and significant tensile strength.
census station The location at which a traffic count or other traffic data or information is
collected. (Survey or study may involve a number of census stations).
central business district Dominant centre of business and commercial activity within a given area.
(CBD) CBDs are characterised by high density office and retail development,
large numbers of pedestrians and vehicles, and a heavy demand for
parking.
central island The circular or other specially shaped central island constructed or
marked at an intersection (roundabout) and around which traffic
circulates in a clockwise direction.
central island The radius/diameter of the circle that forms the kerb line of the central
radius/diameter island. This may not necessarily be a single radius curve; compound
circular curves may be used where necessary.
centreline The line which defines the axis or alignment of the centre of a road or
other work. It may be defined by pavement markings on a road
delineating opposing traffic flows.
CFI see continuous flow intersection
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
chainage The distance of a point along a control line, measured from a datum
point.
changeable message sign Are capable of displaying several traffic operational or guidance
(CMS) messages in a sequence. The messages may be changed manually, by
remote control or by automatic control.
channel The drain which accepts water directly from the pavement.
channelisation A system of controlling traffic by the introduction of an island or islands,
or markings on a carriageway to direct traffic into predetermined paths,
usually at an intersection or junction.
channelised intersection An intersection provided with medians and islands for defining the
trafficable area and to control specific movements.
channelising island A traffic island used at an intersection to confine specific movements of
traffic to definite channels.
characteristic deflection The mean deflection plus a factor times the standard deviation of the
deflection (assuming a normally distributed sample).
characteristic value The statistical measure of a property for the purpose of determination
conformance (e.g. relative compaction).
chassis The basic underframe of an operating road or rail vehicle including the
engine frame and other essential structural and mechanical parts but
exclusive of body and all appurtenances for the accommodation of driver,
property and passengers’ appliances, or equipment related to other than

control.
chevron alignment markers see chevron board
chevron board A patterned reflective sight board that indicates an abrupt change in road
direction.
chevron marking 1. A V-shaped marking applied to areas of pavement not for general use
by vehicles. 2. A diagonal marking of slopes in one direction only relative
to traffic. These markings are used to give definition to splayed
approaches to islands or obstructions and to sealed shoulders. They are
used extensively for painted traffic islands and medians. 3. Diagonal
striping on hazards and barriers to make them more conspicuous on
roadways at traffic islands.
children's crossing A portion of a roadway, not being a pedestrian (zebra) crossing, intended
for part-time use for the crossing of pedestrians (usually school children),
indicated by the display to vehicular traffic of a Children Crossing flag
and/or other signs or signals.
children's crossing An authorised person, appropriately trained, who controls vehicle and
supervisor pedestrian movements at children's crossings or at other crossings
where children cross the road.
chip (chippings) Crushed aggregate, essentially single sized, used for road surfacing.
chip seal The term used in New Zealand which is equivalent to a sprayed seal in
Australia.
circle aspect A traffic signal aspect of circular form and appropriate colour.
CIRCLY A linear elastic layer computer program used to calculate the stresses,
strains and deflections generated in a pavement in all directions under
the application of a simulated load.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
circulating carriageway The carriageway surrounding the central island of a roundabout on which
circulating vehicles travel in a clockwise direction.
circulating flow The vehicular flow in all lanes of the circulating carriageway in advance
of each entry point, (i.e. in front of each splitter island).
circulation Pattern in which traffic moves in a given area.
circulation aisle A roadway primarily used for circulation and to gain access to parking
aisles, and on which there is some parking.
circulation clearance The clearance required in addition to manoeuvring clearances when a
vehicle is moving at speeds greater than those applicable to
manoeuvring.
circulation roadway A section of road that is used solely for circulation and to gain access to
parking aisles and on which there is no parking.
circumferential road Roughly circumferential road about the centre of an urban area
permitting traffic to avoid the centre of such areas.
city logistics The process for totally optimising the logistics and transport activities by
transport companies in urban areas while considering the traffic
environment, traffic congestion and energy consumption within the
framework of a market economy.
classification count A sample count of traffic in which the vehicles within the traffic flow are
classified into types or characteristics, such as speed and weight.
clay A natural earthy material, formed by the natural decomposition of rocks.

It consists of fine particles (less than 2 mm) of complex hydrous silicate.
clear zone That area adjacent to the traffic lanes which should be kept free of fixed
roadside hazards such as rigid poles, culvert end walls, trees, steep
batters, etc.
clearance The space between a stationary and/or moving object.
clearance height The minimum height that a structure should be designed to
accommodate the design vehicle (maximum allowable vehicle heights
are generally 0.2 m less than this height).
clearance time Time given to allow a terminating movement of vehicles or pedestrians to
vacate the controlled area, before the beginning of the next movement of
traffic (see pedestrian clearance period).
clearing The removal of vegetation, roots or other obstacles at or above ground
level, prior to the commencement of earthwork, drainage, etc.
clearing interval The interval of a traffic signal cycle during which traffic executing a
particular movement is warned that availability of that movement is about
to end. The interval is indicated by the display of a yellow aspect to
vehicular traffic and, if provided, a flashing red Don't Walk or its symbolic
equivalent aspect to pedestrian traffic.
clearway A continuous length of roadway along which vehicles are not permitted to
stop or remain stationary except in an emergency or when necessary to
avoid conflict with other traffic or to comply with the directions of a
member of the police force or a traffic control sign or signal. Certain
vehicles may be exempted from such restrictions.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
clear zone A clear zone is the area adjacent to the traffic lane that should be kept
free from features that would be potentially hazardous to errant vehicles.
The clear zone is a compromise between the recovery area for every
errant vehicle, the cost of providing that area and the probability of an
errant vehicle encountering a hazard. The clear zone should be kept free
of non-frangible hazards where economically and environmentally
possible. Alternatively, hazards within the clear zone should be treated to
make them safe or be shielded by a safety barrier.
climbing lane An auxiliary lane, usually on a long upgrade, primarily for the use of slow
moving vehicles allowing faster vehicles to pass (see overtaking lane,
passing lane).
cluster Several crashes at the one location which are of the same or related
accident-type.
CMS see changeable message sign
coach Vehicle seating more than nine persons, including the driver, which is
licensed to carry only seated passengers (see light bus and heavy bus).
coarse aggregate A general term for aggregates substantially retained on a sieve of
specified size, commonly 4.75 mm.
cobblestone A rounded stone usually between 60 mm and 200 mm in size.
coefficient of run-off The ratio of the amount of water that runs off a catchment area to the
amount that falls on the catchment.
cohesion The ability of a material to resist, by means of internal forces, the

separation of its constituent particles.
cohesive soil A soil with relevant behaviour characteristics derived largely or entirely
from the cohesive bonds associated with the fine fraction.
cold mix (patching) A mixture of bituminous binder and aggregate, with or without added
mineral filler, produced warm or cold in a mixing plant and delivered in a
workable condition suitable for stockpiling and spreading and
compaction. It is used in areas where it is impractical to do repair work
using hot mix.
cold planing (profiling A mechanical method of cold milling a pavement surface to restore the
milling) road to a specified grade and profile by removing corrugations, ruts and
other surface imperfections in preparation for resurfacing.
cold recycling For asphalt works, the entire existing pavement structure, including in
some cases the underlying untreated base material, is processed in-
place or removed and processed at a mixing plant. The materials are
mixed cold and other materials may be added during mixing to provide a
higher strength base. Includes wet mixing and in situ stabilisation.
collector road A non-arterial road that collects and distributes traffic in an area as well
as serving abutting property.
collector-distributor road An auxiliary road, separated laterally from, but generally parallel to, a
through road and joining it at a limited number of points. The road
serves to collect traffic from and distribute traffic to several local roads
(see service road).
column (of aspects) A combination of signal aspects arranged in a vertical assembly.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
combination device Any treatment which comprises combinations of vertical and/or horizontal
devices.
combined vehicle Either a combination of a rigid vehicle and one trailer (other than a semi-
trailer) or an articulated vehicle.
commercial vehicle (CV) A motor vehicle constructed specifically to convey goods or passengers
in the course of trade or business. It has at least one axle with dual
wheels and/or more than two axles.
commercial vehicle survey Survey of commercial vehicle premises to ascertain detailed information
on truck movement (akin to a home-interview survey). Note: Commercial
vehicle surveys are especially useful for validation of traffic models of
large urban areas.
commuter parking lot Parking lot in which people travelling from home to work may park their
cars and continue on their trip either by carpool, bus, commuter bus,
express bus, rail, other forms of public transport or on foot.
compaction The reduction in volume of a material by inducing closer packing of its
particles by rolling, tamping, vibrating or other processes to reduce the
air voids content.
compaction test A laboratory test to determine the maximum dry density of a soil or
pavement material under specified test conditions.
competing opportunities Mathematical model for distributing trips based on the assumption that
model the trips originating in any zone will distribute themselves to other zones
in proportion to the probability that the trips have not found another
destination at that trip length.
complete (or full) control of The condition in which access is confined to chosen points, and crossing
access access at grade and direct access from adjoining property is prohibited.
complex modulus A complex number which defines the relationship between stress and
strain (specifically the lag of the strain behind the stress) for a linear
viscoelastic material subjected to a sinusoidal loading.
compliance plate Identification plate, as approved by the Administrator of Vehicle
Standards for affixing to the vehicle for which it is approved.
composite pavement A pavement structure having both flexible and rigid pavement layers.
compound curve A curve consisting of two or more arcs of different radii curving in the
same direction and having a common tangent point or being joined by a
transition curve.
compound manoeuvre The crossing, merging, or diverging of multilane traffic streams.
compression test A test for determining the strength and elasticity of a material in
compression under a specified test condition.
Concessional Mass Limits The Gross Vehicle Mass limit of vehicles operating under the National
(CML) Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme. Tandem and triaxle groups are
set at 5% above General Mass Limits subject to certain conditions, with a
maximum mass increase of 1.0 tonne for a vehicle up to 55.0 tonne
mass and 2.0 tonne for a vehicle exceeding 55.0 tonne mass.
concrete A mixture of fine and coarse aggregate, water, cement and admixtures.
concrete pavement A pavement that uses the high modules of concrete to withstand and
dissipate heavy traffic loadings. The wearing surface may be the
concrete itself, or a thin asphalt layer.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
condition based A method of determining depreciation of an asset, based on an
depreciation assessment of the physical condition of the asset.
condition index An indicator of asset condition, formed by combining a number of
condition parameters, using weightings to reflect the relative contribution
of each condition parameter to decisions about intervention and
treatment.
condition monitoring Continuous or periodic inspection, assessment, measurement, reporting
and interpretation of resulting data to indicate the condition of an asset in
order to determine the need for and nature and timing of maintenance.
condition parameter A specific characteristic of a pavement that is used to assess its
functionality or condition. Examples include roughness, rutting, cracking,
surface texture, pavement strength (deflection), skid resistance, edge
break, edge drop off, local defects and patching. Reporting can be either
by bins or distress levels (e.g. good, fair, poor, bad, etc.), or on a
continuous numerical scale (IRI, rut depth, crack width, percentage area
patched, etc.).
condition state A combination of distresses and distress levels. To illustrate this
concept, if roughness, rutting and cracking are adopted as condition
parameters to describe a network, each with three distress levels (e.g.
good, fair, poor), then each segment will fall within one of 27 possible
condition states (e.g. roughness – good, rutting – poor, cracking – fair).
condition survey The process of collecting data pertaining to the structural and functional
condition of a pavement or road asset.

configuration Physical attributes of an asset that define its capacity and capabilities.
For road assets, configuration may be defined by parameters such as
numbers of carriageways and lanes, surface width, structure type, etc.
confirmation sign see reassurance sign
conflict point Point of potential collision between vehicles involved in a manoeuvre.
conflict zone That area from the point where a vehicle enters an intersection to the last
point of conflict with another legal movement of traffic (including
pedestrians).
conflicting movements The vehicle or pedestrian traffic streams at intersections, whose paths
cross or merge when moving simultaneously.
congestion pricing Pricing of public and private urban road transport until each covers its
real resource costs.
consistency A general term for the physical state of a semi-fluid or plastic material
and its resistance to deformation or flow.
consolidation The process by which soil reduces in volume under load over a period of
time due to the loss of water.
consolidation/deconsolidati Consolidation of smaller freight loads transported by light freight vehicles
on of freight to larger freight loads to be transported by heavy road freight vehicles
and rail. Deconsolidation of freight would involve break down of these
larger loads to smaller loads for distribution. Examples could include
courier packages and value added freight.
conspicuity Describes the degree to which road users, signs etc. are readily
observed.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
construction (pavement) Action to provide a new pavement, or to increase either strength or
capacity or both of an existing pavement, beyond the initial as-
constructed values. Pavement construction includes rehabilitation which
achieves an increase in strength or width above the strength or width
originally constructed. Pavement construction provides additional
capacity or service potential, usually to carry increased axle loads
(pavement strength) or traffic volumes (pavement or seal width), and
sometimes to improve safety performance (e.g. widening for turning
traffic, sealing shoulders).
construction joint A joint made during the placement of concrete or pavement base
material to divide the work into parts for convenience during construction
or to provide for unavoidable interruption to placing.
containment fence Physical barrier sufficient to provide separation between the travelled
path, or paths used by cyclists and pedestrians, from the work area, but
not as rigid as to become a hazard if struck by vehicles, or to act as a
safety barrier.
continuing road The road (except a road-related area) that meets the terminating road at
the T-intersection.
continuity line A longitudinal broken line of distinctive pattern, which may be used to
indicate the edge of that portion of a carriageway assigned to through
traffic and which is intended to be crossed by traffic turning at an
intersection, or entering or leaving a freeway at an interchange.
continuous flow intersection An at-grade intersection that moves the turn conflict (to the right where
(CFI) traffic drives on the left) out of the main intersection. A CFI moves the
right-turn down the road eliminating the right-turn traffic signal phase.
continuous grading (well A grading or particle size distribution where all sizes or fractions from the
graded) maximum particle size down are represented. The grading curve has a
smooth concave shape without abrupt changes in slope.
continuously reinforced A concrete pavement containing relatively heavy longitudinal
concrete pavement (CRCP) reinforcement and having no transverse joints.
contraction joint A provision made in a structure or pavement to allow contraction of
components, induced by temperature change or other causes, to occur in
a controlled manner (e.g. a groove in concrete).
contraflow Traffic flow in a direction opposite to the normal flow. For example, a
contraflow bus lane might be one that runs the ‘wrong’ way on a one-way
street.
contra-flow bicycle lane A bicycle lane deployed on one (left) side of a one-way street serving
cyclists travelling against what is otherwise the legal direction of travel.
control point A point at or near the entrance or exit from a car park at which the flow of
traffic is retarded by the existence of a boom barrier, with or without ticket
or cashier operation, or the location of the first of any spaces on a
circulation aisle at which parking manoeuvres may cause traffic flow to
be retarded.
controlled access road A road for through traffic to which access from abutting properties or
joining roads is controlled.
controlled area That portion of a carriageway or intersection, the entry into which is
controlled by traffic signals.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
controller The equipment (including the housing) that switches power to signal
lanterns and controls the duration and sequence of signal displays. See
also vehicle controller.
controller algorithm Programmed logic sequence internal to the controller, which transforms
operator input and traffic demands into traffic control signal sequences.
controller personality A unique program that configures the controller to the specific
operational design of the intersection or mid-block device it is controlling,
including specifications of which signal groups run in each phase, the
sequence of phases, detector functions, detector alarm conditions and
default time settings.
controller programming The task of configuring a controller to the specific requirements of a
particular site. Also called adaptive engineering.
controller settings User-defined control parameters within a traffic controller that determine
signal timings (together with current traffic demands in the case of a
traffic-actuated controller).
conventional binder A bitumen emulsion with a bitumen content of 60%.
converted traffic Component of traffic that has changed its mode of travel, e.g. from train
to car.
co-ordinated alignment see alignment co-ordination
coordinated control The operation of a traffic signal system where the control of individual
signal installations is inter-related, usually to enable platoons of vehicles

to travel through several sets of signals without having to stop.
coordination The operation of a traffic signal system where the control of individual
installations is interrelated by means of a wide area control system, local
interlinking or cableless linking.
copolymer A polymer that contains two or more kinds of polymer molecules, e.g.
SBS, SBR, EVA.
cordon 1. The boundary of the area being studied in a cordon count. 2.
Imaginary line drawn around a given study area at which traffic counts
and interviews may be taken.
cordon count A count of all traffic entering or leaving an area by all routes.
cordon line see cordon
cordon station Location on a road crossing the cordon line at which information is
obtained concerning the movement of vehicles.
cordon survey Survey of traffic crossing a cordon line, which is designed to obtain trip
data on vehicles and/or persons travelling into, out of, or through a study
area.
core A cylindrical sample drilled out of soil, concrete, rock or a pavement for
testing purposes.
corner cube reflector A delineator consisting of retroreflective elements, usually acrylic, in
which the retroreflection is achieved by three planes mutually at right
angles, and used on pavements, guide posts and other roadside objects.
corner cut-off The truncation of property boundaries adjacent to an intersection.
corner kerb radius The radius of the corner kerb between adjacent entry and exit roadways.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
correction course A course of varying thickness applied to a pavement surface to adjust its
shape prior to overlay with another course such as a sprayed seal.
corridor A major area of travel between two points. It may include more than one
major route and more than one form of transport.
corrosion (oxidation) The chemical or electrochemical reaction between a material, usually a
metal, and its environment (oxygen and water) that produces a
deterioration of the material and its properties.
corrugation Transverse undulations on the road surface, closely and regularly
spaced, with wavelengths less than 2 m. Often occurs in unsealed roads
devoid of clay binder.
cost effectiveness An economic measure defined as the effectiveness of an action or
treatment divided by the present worth of life-cycle costs.
cost-benefit analysis (CBA) see economic costs and benefits
coupling A mechanical assembly that provides a connection between the drawbar
of a trailer and the towbar of the drawing vehicle.
course (pavement layer) One or more layers of the same material within a pavement structure.
cover 1. The depth of material between the surface of the ground or pavement
and the top of a culvert or pipe. 2. The thickness of concrete between a
reinforcing bar, tendon or duct, and the nearest surface of a concrete
member. 3. The depth of material over the subgrade or any layer in the
pavement structure.
coverage The measure of the rate per unit area, either by volume or mass, at
which a material is applied to a pavement structure or surface.
cowl see visor
crack An irregular, unplanned opening which is essentially vertical and of
various widths which may intersect with others, oriented longitudinally
(that is in the direction of traffic) wandering transversely or a
combination.
crack and seat A process by which a concrete pavement is broken into blocks, followed
by the application of a heavy roller to seat the blocks.
crack sealing The filling and/or bridging of cracks, usually in the pavement surface or in
a concrete structure.
cracking A pavement defect signified by vertical splitting of the pavement material
due to the action of traffic loading, environmental stress or material
characteristics. It is usually identified as visible discontinuities at the
surface, not necessarily extending through the entire thickness of a
member or pavement.
crash An apparently unpremeditated event which results in death or injury to a
person or property damage and is attributable to the movement of a road
vehicle on a public road (including vehicles entering or leaving a public
road).
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
crash costs Crash costs include human costs, vehicle costs and general costs. In the
current Australian context, human costs are estimated based on the
'human capital' approach, which values loss of human life based on lost
potential human output or productivity. Loss of quality of life is also taken
into account, although it is not traditionally considered in the 'human
capital approach'. Medical costs, coronial costs, legal and correctional
services costs are all incorporated in human costs. In the New Zealand
context, crash costs are estimated based on the 'willingness to pay'
approach, which values the loss of a human life (or interruption to optimal
health) in terms of the amount that people are willing to pay to reduce
risk to their lives. Vehicle costs incurred in repairing damage to the
vehicles involved and loss of productivity due to vehicle unavailability and
general costs include other property damage, police costs, insurance
costs etc.
crash location A location where a limited range of accident-types occurs repeatedly,
suggesting that there are common causes, rather than the accidents
being the result of mere chance.
crash rates A crash rate is a ratio of the number of crashes to some common
denominator, usually vehicle kilometres travelled, head of population or
period of time. Crash rates allow more meaningful comparisons to be
made between crash locations.
crashworthiness The ability of a vehicle structure to protect its occupants during an
impact.
creep The slow plastic deformation of a material under stress.

crest curve see summit curve
crib wall A retaining wall consisting of interlocking members placed in alternative
longitudinal or transverse skeletal layers to form a row of open cells
which are filled with earth or rocks.
critical acceptance gap The minimum gap in a traffic stream acceptable to drivers wishing to join
or cross that stream, or to drivers in the opposing stream wishing to
overtake.
critical density The traffic density on a given road or carriageway when the traffic
volume is at capacity.
critical intersection The intersection in a coordinated signal system that operates with the
highest overall degree of saturation during a given period.
critical lane The lane in a lane group or approach that has the highest degree of
saturation and places the highest demand on green time.
critical movements The set of movements that determine the capacity and timing
requirements of a signalised intersection.
crocodile cracking (alligator Interconnected cracks forming a series of small blocks resembling a
cracking) crocodile’s skin or chicken-wire, normally caused by excessive deflection
of the surface over unstable/weak subgrade or lower courses of the
pavement.
cross-anisotropic A term used in relation to pavements having properties in the vertical
plane different from those in the horizontal plane.
crossfall The slope, measured at right angles to the alignment, of the surface of
any part of a carriageway.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
crossing A formal area set aside for other modes of transport, pedestrians, cattle,
and the like, to cross the road; usually called cycle crossing, pedestrian
crossing, railway crossing, as appropriate.
crossing sight distance 1. Sight distance required to enable traffic to start from rest and safely
cross one or more traffic streams. 2. The sight distance required for
pedestrians to safely cross a roadway without interruption to the
vehicular traffic.
cross-section A vertical section, generally at right angles to the centreline showing the
ground. On drawings it commonly shows the road to be constructed, or
as constructed.
cross-stitch (concrete) A process of drilling alternately inclined holes into concrete across a
crack/longitudinal joint and affixing a tie bar for the purposes of tying
adjacent concrete faces to prevent the crack/joint from further widening.
The tie bar is also subjected to shear forces when in service.
crosswalk lines Continuous or broken lines marked transversely across the road to
define the limits of a signalised crossing (see marked foot crossing,
signalised crossing).
crown The highest point on the cross-section of a carriageway with two-way
crossfall.
cruising speed Vehicle speed achievable on a section of road uninterrupted by control
devices but affected by side friction, road geometry and traffic volume.
crumb rubber Rubber particles manufactured from waste or reclaimed rubber products
such as vehicle tyres and graded to conform to a specified size range.
Used in bitumen to improve binder properties.
crumple zone A structural feature of a vehicle designed to compress during an accident
designed to absorb energy from an impact. Typically, crumple zones are
located in the front part of the vehicle, in order to absorb the impact of a
head-on crash, though they may be found on other parts of the vehicle
as well.
crushed aggregate An aggregate having fractured faces and obtained from the crushing of
hard rock. The size of aggregate particles is not necessarily uniform.
crushed rock An aggregate made by crushing rock, as distinct from crushed gravel.
crushed sand A fine aggregate which is produced by the crushing of specific rock
types.
crusher Equipment which is used to reduce larger stone and gravel to smaller,
usable sizes.
crusher dust The dust or fines, usually 2 to 4 mm in size, produced by the crushing of
gravel or rock.
crusher run An aggregate prepared by crushing without subsequent screening.
crust The fines-bound top ‘skin’ of an unsealed road.
cubical aggregate particles An aggregate particle which is approximately cube-shaped.
cul-de-sac A street or road open for vehicular traffic at one end only.
culvert One or more adjacent pipes or enclosed channels for conveying surface
water or a stream below formation level.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
curfew Regulation which typically establishes strict control of movement after
nightfall. Curfews are issued to certain types of heavy vehicles in certain
areas at certain times of day to alleviate congestion or noise issues.
Some jurisdictions apply curfews as a penalty for violating licence
conditions and some jurisdictions apply curfews to
probationary/provisional licence holders.
curing The facilitation of the achievement of the desired end state of concrete or
other material (e.g. strength) through the provision of a suitable
environment.
curing compound A substance sprayed or painted onto any concrete or pavement surface
to retard loss of moisture during hardening.
curing membrane A membrane enclosing concrete to retard loss of moisture during
hardening.
curvature function The difference in the maximum deflection at a test site and the deflection
at an offset of 200 mm from the point at which the maximum deflection
was measured. It is used to estimate pavement stiffness and the
likelihood of fatigue cracking of an asphalt layer.
curvilinear alignment Alignment which is a continuous curve with constant, gradual and
smooth changes of direction.
cut The depth from the natural surface of the ground to the subgrade level.
cutback bitumen Bitumen to which cutter oil (kerosene) has been added to achieve a
temporary reduction in viscosity.

cut-down kerb A kerb that has been cut down for vehicle or pedestrian crossing.
cut-off drain An interceptor drain constructed along the top of a cutting or batter to
prevent surface water running down the face.
cut-off layer A layer of aggregate or synthetic fibre (geosynthetic) used to prevent clay
intrusion into the road pavement.
cut-out An opening which allows water to escape from the carriageway or
channel to a drain or water course.
cutout drain An open drain or ditch formed to drain water from the surface water
channel to a side drain or natural water course.
cutter (kerosene) A light petroleum distillate added to bitumen to temporarily reduce its
viscosity (cutback bitumen).
cutting That portion of the road where the finished road surface is below the
natural surface level.
cycle A complete sequence of signal phases.
cycle crossing see crossing
cycle lane A paved area adjacent to and flush with the traffic lane pavement, for the
exclusive use of cyclists.
cycle length Time required for one complete sequence of signal displays (sum of
phase green and intergreen times). For a given movement, cycle time is
the sum of the durations of red, yellow and green signal displays, or sum
of effective green and red times.
cycle path Separate carriageway devoted to the use of pedal cycles.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
cycle route A route (on or off roads) recommended for use by pedal cycles.
cycle time The time required for one complete sequence of aspects.
cycle way 1. Portion of a road or footpath devoted to the use of pedal cycles (see
cycle lane). 2. An access way designed specifically for use by pedal
cycles.
cyclist Rider of a bicycle or human powered vehicle.
D
D&C see design and construct form of project/contract delivery
DBFO see design, build, finance and operate form of project/contract delivery
DCA see definitions for coding accidents
dead head see dead running-time
dead running time Trip made with no passengers or no load. For example, a bus may dead
run to a suburban terminus in the morning or a road transport vehicle
may dead run back to a depot.
deceleration lane An auxiliary lane provided to allow vehicles to decrease speed.
deck The bridge floor directly carrying traffic loads.
dedicated short range A wireless (radio) communications approach that enables short range
communications (DSRC) communications between vehicles and between vehicles and the
roadside for a variety of purposes.

deep lift (asphalt) A paving technique whereby asphalt is placed in a lift of at least 75 mm
compacted thickness.
deep lift stabilisation A pavement construction technique whereby in situ stabilisation is carried
out to depths in excess of 250 mm.
deep strength asphalt A pavement structure in which the wearing course and a substantial
pavement portion of the base consist of asphalt.
defect Visible evidence of an undesirable condition in the pavement affecting
serviceability, structural capacity or appearance.
defensive driving Defensive driving involves learning to anticipate trouble on the road
before it happens.
deferred maintenance A maintenance activity which, in accordance with a stated strategy
and/or agreed maintenance intervention levels, should be carried out in
the current year, but is not funded.
definitions for coding An Australian system for coding accident types.
accidents (DCA)
deflection 1. The amount of deviation away from the straight line of travel. 2. The
vertical movement of a member or pavement due to the application of a
load. It is an indication of the rate at which permanent deformation will
occur under traffic, or due to other environmental or physical factors,
over time.
deflection bowl A representation of the shape of the elastic deformation of the pavement
surface when a load is applied.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
deflectograph A vehicle having a dual-tyred single rear axle carrying a standard axle
load and equipped with a measuring device to enable pavement surface
deflections under both rear wheel tracks to be measured and recorded at
4 m intervals as the vehicle travels slowly over the pavement. The load
is moved towards the point at which the deflection (or ‘loading bowl') is
measured.
degradation The changes in the mineral fragments of a pavement caused by rubbing
or grinding against each of them within the mass.
degradation factor A measure of the ability of an aggregate to withstand deterioration due to
environment conditions. It can be measured by a number of ad hoc tests,
the best known being the ‘Washington degradation factor-source rock’
test.
degree of saturation (DOS) The ratio, usually expressed as a percentage, of the number of vehicles
entering an intersection in a specified period, to the number which could
enter if an approach was fully saturated (i.e. at capacity) during that
period.
delamination The lifting of the surfacing because of failure of the bond between the
surface and the underlying layers.
delay The additional travel time experienced by a vehicle or pedestrian with
reference to a base travel time (e.g. the free flow travel time).
delineation Treatments that enhance the selection of the appropriate path and
speed, or position, to allow a manoeuvre to be carried out safely and

efficiently, e.g. linemarking, raised pavement markers, traffic cones and
flaps and post-mounted reflectors.
delineator A device, other than a simple post, used to indicate the edge of the
formation, carriageway or traffic lane.
demand 1. The registration of the presence of vehicle or pedestrian traffic waiting
for the right-of-way. 2. The traffic volume desiring to travel along a given
route.
demand flow The number of vehicles or pedestrians arriving during a given period as
measured at the back of the queue (as distinct from departure flows
measured in front of the queue). See flow rate, traffic count, traffic
volume.
demand management The active intervention in the market to influence the demand for
services and the assets generated and/or used in the supply of these
services in order to best match available resources to real needs and to
ensure the services provided are delivered with the best value for money.
demand responsive System providing radio control despatched door-to-door or point-to-point
transport service. The vehicle is usually summoned by phone and routed by
computer or manual means to respond to a number of calls; it may also
operate on a fixed route with diversions to pick up passengers upon
telephone requests. It provides service to travellers with different origins
and destinations and may also include permanent bookings on a
subscription basis.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
demerit points scheme The demerit points scheme is a national program that allocates penalty
points (demerits) for a range of driving offences. Along with financial
penalties, demerit points provide a strong incentive to drive within the
law. Different offences have a different number of demerit points. A driver
who has not committed any offences has zero points. When an offence
that carries demerit points is committed, the road authority records the
offence and the points on the licence holder’s driving record. If a certain
number of demerit points in a given timeframe are accumulated, their
licence will be suspended or application for renewal refused.
dense-graded asphalt A mixture of coarse aggregate, fine aggregate, filler and bitumen, placed
hot and compacted to a dense state as a pavement layer or resurfacing.
density 1. Number of vehicles per unit length of lane or roadway at a given
instant. 2. Mass per unit volume. See apparent particle density, bulk
density, bulk particle density, maximum dry density, maximum density
and particle density.
depreciation The proportion of an asset consumed during an accounting period.
depression A road fault in which the road surface has sunk.
design Can mean design of a scheme, installation, treatment or device. The
distinction is important, and should be made clear in each case.
design and construct form This is a project delivery method whereby the contractor takes
of project/contract delivery responsibility for both the design and construction of the project based on
(D&C) a concept and requirements specified by the owner.

design, build, finance & The responsibilities for designing, building, financing and operating are
operate form of bundled together and transferred to private sector partners.
project/contract delivery
(DBFO)
design hour volume (DHV) 1. The number of vehicles expected to use the highway adopted for the
purpose of design, normally expressed as the number of vehicles per
hour. 2. The number of vehicles per hour for which the road is designed.
design life The period during which the performance of a bridge or pavement is
expected to remain acceptable with only routine maintenance.
design load The load distribution, or combination of loads, for which a structure is
designed.
design moisture content The highest moisture content of the subgrade soils likely to be reached
for a significant period during the design life of the road.
design period A period considered appropriate to the function of the road or bridge. It
is used to determine the total traffic for which the pavement or bridge is
designed.
design process Process for arriving at a final design for a transport project and normally
divided into three distinct phases: 1. Functional Design: Preparation of
the conceptual design with enough detail to ensure that the design will
function as intended. 2. Preliminary Design: Finalisation of design in
terms of calculations, specifications and estimates such that all aspects
of the design are determined. 3. Documentation: Preparation of plans
and documents describing the design sufficiently for it to be constructed.
design queue length The predicted maximum length of a vehicle queue in a particular lane or
lanes at an intersection during a period of peak traffic flow.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
design speed A speed fixed for the design and correlation of those geometric features
of a carriageway that influence vehicle operation. Design speed should
not be less than the intended 85th percentile speed.
design standard Identifies particular standards used in the design, e.g. standard lane
width.
design subgrade level The level of the prepared formation after completion of stripping and
excavation or filling and upon which the pavement is to be constructed.
design traffic The cumulative traffic, often expressed in terms of equivalent standard
axle loads, predicted to use a road or bridge over the structural design
life of the pavement or bridge.
design vehicle The hypothetical road vehicle whose mass, dimensions and operating
characteristics are used to establish aspects of the road geometry layout.
design volume The number of vehicles expected to use the road and adopted for the
purposes of geometric design, normally expressed as vehicles per hour
or per day.
design year The year in which traffic volumes are anticipated to reach a pre-selected
level.
desire line Route chosen by cyclists (or other road or path users if relevant)
irrespective of the presence of a route, path or other facility.
desired speed The speed over a section of a road adopted by a driver or drivers as
influenced by the road geometry and other environmental factors.

desire-line diagram Diagram made up of many desire-lines, the width or density of which
represents the volume of trips moving between an origin and a
destination.
destination Point or area in which a trip ends.
detection rate (DR) The rate of detecting an event.
detector A device by which the presence and/or passage of vehicles or
pedestrians is registered.
detector loop One or more loops of wire embedded in the road surface used to detect
vehicles.
deterioration (pavement) The wear process under which the functional and/or structural capability
of a pavement decreases as a result of traffic, climate and environmental
effects.
deterioration rate The rate of change in asset condition from one year to another. As the
rate typically varies over time it may also be referred to as the
‘deterioration curve’.
deterministic model Model that produces a mathematically exact solution.
detour An alternative route open to traffic during temporary closure of a road.
An alteration to the alignment of a portion of a road, usually involving
deviation significant departure from the existing route.
device An individual engineering treatment inserted into a street carriageway.
DGPS see differential global positioning system
diagonal marking see chevron marking
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
dial-a-bus see demand responsive transport
dial-a-ride see demand responsive transport
diamond interchange An interchange with single ramps in all four quadrants, generally
providing for all turning movements.
diamond overlap phasing Phasing that allows right turns from opposing directions to operate either
simultaneously, or independently with the through movement on the
same approach, depending on demand for the right turns and conflicting
through movements.
diamond turn A right turning manoeuvre in which opposing vehicle movements from
the same road pass on the right of each other.
differential friction level The difference in skid resistance e.g. SCRIM coefficient (SC) values
between wheelpaths in the same lane. Large differences in skid
resistance could result in vehicle spin when braking.
differential global A service that achieves greater position accuracy than GPS through
positioning system (DGPS) broadcasts of corrections to GPS signals.
differential settlement The uneven sinking of the foundations of a structure.
dilutent A substance which has the effect of reducing viscosity when added to
bitumen e.g., cutter oil, flux oil or anti-stripping agent.
direction sign A sign to direct traffic along a route or towards a destination.
directional detector A traffic detector capable of being actuated only by vehicles proceeding
in one direction.
directional hazard marker A rectangular sign marked with a series of alternate black and white
bands in the form of a chevron, to indicate the direction to be taken at a
hazard.
directional interchange An interchange, generally between two freeways or expressways,
providing direct connections for some or all right turning movements.
directional split 1. The ratio of the one-way traffic volume on a road in the major direction
to that in the minor direction during a specified period. 2. A comparison
of the volume of peak period traffic travelling in each direction along the
road expressed as a percentage of the two-way volume, e.g. 70/30; that
is 70% travels in the peak direction, 30% in the opposite direction.
disaggregate model Mathematical model of travel behaviour related to individual traveller
characteristics.
discharge The volumetric rate of water flow.
discount rate The rate used in economic analysis to convert current dollar values of
costs which occur in a future year to a present value in the base year.
dish drain A shallow paved drain which conveys water across a road.
displaced right turn (DRT) Enables one or more conflicting movements to take place away from the
main intersection at a new ‘crossover intersection’, reducing the number
of conflicts at the central node.
display A signal aspect that is illuminated.
display sequence The order in which traffic signal displays occur (see phase sequence).
distance A linear measurement along the road alignment from a permanent
reference point.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
distance marker A sign used to indicate the distance to or from more important towns
along a route.
distress An accumulation of defects.
distress level A form of reporting for condition, using bins (e.g. good, fair, poor, etc.),
as distinct from a continuous numerical scale.
distributor road A non-arterial road that collects and distributes traffic in an area, as well
as serving abutting property (see road, collector road).
disutility of travel Measure of dissatisfaction as perceived by a consumer, which is used in
economics as the cost of making a trip and is used in travel models for
the same purpose.
diverging The dividing of a single stream of traffic into separate streams.
diversion assignment Process of allocating the total number of trips between two zones to
minimum impedance and flow as determined by the assignment.
diverted traffic Component of traffic which has changed its route but not its origin,
destination, or mode of travel.
divided carriageway A road with a separate carriageway for each direction of travel created by
placing some physical obstruction, such as a median or barrier, between
the opposing traffic directions.
divided road A highway or road with separated carriageways for traffic travelling in
opposite directions.
dividing line A road marking formed by a line, or two parallel lines, whether broken or
continuous, designed to indicate the parts of the road to be used by
vehicles travelling in opposite directions.
dividing strip An area or structure that divides a road lengthways, but does not include
a nature strip, bicycle path, footpath or shared path.
DMS see dynamic message sign
dog trailer A trailer (including a trailer consisting of a semi-trailer and converter
dolly) with one axle group or single axle at the front that is steered by
connection to the towing vehicle by a drawbar, and one axle group or
single axle at the rear.
domestic property A property comprising up to three residences (see residential property).
dominant stream The traffic stream or lane of a multi-lane entry to a roundabout which has
the greatest flow at that entry.
do-nothing alternative Planning option of leaving the transport system as it already exists, with
the possible exception of minor traffic control and safety improvements.
DOS see degree of saturation
double seal A seal consisting of two successive applications of binder each followed
by an application of aggregate.
double trailer combination A vehicle consisting of an articulated vehicle and a trailer which is either
a dog trailer or a semi-trailer plus a converter dolly. A 20 m double trailer
combination is one restricted to 20 m in overall length.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
dowel A short, straight, plain reinforcing bar embedded into two adjacent blocks
or slabs of concrete to permit relative horizontal movement in the
direction of the dowel and hence prevent relative vertical movement
between adjacent blocks.
dowel bars Dowel bars for pavement structures are located centrally in the base to
transfer wheel loads across a transverse construction joint. The (plain
steel) bars vary in size according to the thickness of the base. Dowel
bars for bridge structures are designed to permit relative movement in
the direction of the dowel.
downstream The direction along a carriageway towards which the vehicle flow under
consideration is moving.
DR see detection rates
drag A process whereby surface irregularities are evened out through the use
of a drag.
drag broom A frame carrying several broom heads used for levelling or redistributing
sealing aggregate.
drain A channel formed at the surface or a culvert, pipe or other similar
construction for drainage.
drainage The natural or artificial means of intercepting and removing surface or
sub-surface water, usually by gravity.
drainage layer An unstabilised, or bitumen and/or cement stabilised, open-graded

pavement layer, usually 100 to 150 mm thick, and connected to a
positive drainage system.
drawbar That part of a trailer (except a semi-trailer) connecting the trailer body to
a coupling for towing purposes.
DRIP see dynamic route information panel
driver comfort The level of vibration that a vehicle’s driver is exposed to during a
working shift that leads to reduced comfort and decreased proficiency,
and contributes to driver fatigue.
driving experience Cumulative amount of time spent driving and the variety of situations that
a driver has been exposed to. Increased driving experience is associated
with decreased crash risk and therefore most Australian states now
impose a minimum number of hours of driving experience before a
learner driver is eligible to take the driver licence test.
driver fatigue Insufficient sleep, disrupted circadian patterns and extended periods of
concentration and/or discomfort can lead to problems with fatigue
including: slow reactions and decisions; slow control movements;
hallucinations; decreased tolerance for other road users; poor lane
tracking and maintenance of headway speed; and loss of situational
awareness. Because fatigue is not easily quantifiable, the importance of
fatigue as a cause of crashes is almost certainly underestimated in crash
investigations.
driver improvement Typically a classroom based group educational meeting aimed at
program improving a road user's attitude to driving and encouraging adoption of
defensive driving tactics. Drivers are typically recruited into the program if
they accumulate a certain number of demerit points.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
driver licence Document or card entitling the bearer to drive in the specified
jurisdictions, abiding by any conditions listed on the licence and any
applicable road rules.
driveway A defined area used by vehicles travelling between a public carriageway
and a property adjacent or near to the road.
driveway link An extended form of slow point stretching for two or more property
frontages that provides a greater visual and physical impact on the street
than a standard slow point.
driving time see travel time
DRM see dynamic road marking
DRT see displaced right turn
dry density The ratio of the dry mass of a sample of material to its undried volume
(including voids).
DSRC see dedicated short range communications
DTSM see dynamic traffic speed management
dual primary signal face The signal face mounted on a post either on the median at or near the
right of the stop line, or if there is no median or the median is too narrow,
to the right and near the projection of the stop line (see primary signal
face).
dual secondary signal face The signal face mounted on a post on the downstream side to the right of
that approach, in addition to the secondary signal face located on the
median.
dual use path Now referred to as a shared use path.
ductility The ability of a material to be elongated without rupture, when stretched
under standard test conditions.
dummy joint The groove cut or formed in the surface of a concrete slab or asphalt to
form a line along which the slab will tend to crack rather than elsewhere.
dwell-time For public transport, the time for which a vehicle or vessel is stationary at
a stop, station or wharf.
dynamic cone penetrometer A hand-operated device for measuring the resistance of a soil to
(DCP) penetration by a steel cone. The steel cone is connected to a rod and
driven into the ground by a drop hammer. From this test, the field CBR
and allowable bearing capacity can be estimated.
dynamic load coefficient The parameter used to characterise the magnitude of the wheel forces
(DLC) applied by a moving vehicle to a pavement or structure.
dynamic message signs The signs communicate real-time traffic information, allowing motorists to
(DMS) make quick decisions in response to roadway or adverse weather
conditions.
dynamic road marking Consist of road markers or studs which can emit light. These systems
(DRM) give highway engineers the ability to change the use, priority and even
the direction of travel to suit the real-time demands of traffic
management.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
dynamic route information A DRIP usually indicates if there are queues on the various routes to a
panel (DRIP) particular destination, how long they are, and sometimes what the
estimated journey time is. This is intended to influence the route choice
and thus to improve the traffic flow.
dynamic traffic speed The management of speeds in a traffic stream according to prevailing
management (DTSM) traffic flow conditions with the aim of improving safety and efficiency of
vehicle movements.
dynamic wheel forces The wheel forces applied by a moving vehicle passing over a pavement
(dynamic load) or structure having random roughness.
E
early cut-off The phase interval used at the end of a phase for allowing the
termination of some signal groups earlier than others.
early cut-off feature A feature of a traffic signal controller whereby a certain traffic movement
is terminated earlier than other movements on the same phase.
earthworks 1. All operations involved in loosening, removing, depositing, shaping
and compacting soil or rock. 2. The structure resulting from this
operation.
ecological sustainable The use, conservation and enhancement of the community’s resources
development (ESD) so that the ecological processes on which life depends are maintained
and the present and future total quality of life can be sustained.
economic analysis Means of analysing investment or policy decisions by comparing the

benefits and costs of such decisions as far as practicable in monetary
terms. Future costs and benefits are discounted to represent present
day values
economic costs and Total costs and benefits to the community irrespective of whether actual
benefits financial flows are involved. Economic costs and benefits should exclude
transfer payments (such as taxes and subsidies).
edge break A pavement surface defect in which the edge of the bituminous surface is
fretted, broken or irregular.
edge drop-off A pavement defect where the vertical distance from the surface at the
edge of a seal to the surface of the shoulder exceeds acceptable limits
(e.g. 10-15 mm).
edge line 1. A line marked along the road at or near the far left or far right side of
the road (except any road-related area of the road). Also known as
pavement edge line. 2. A line marking to indicate the outer edge of the
vehicle traffic lane on the carriageway.
edge marker post see guide post
effective green and red The movement green and red times for capacity and performance
times analysis purposes, which are determined by adjusting the displayed
green and red times for start loss and end gain effects (see green time,
red time).
effective green time The movement green time for capacity and performance analysis
purposes, which are determined by adjusting the displayed green times
for start loss and end gain effects.
EFROMD/ELMOD Computer models which back-calculate the elastic moduli of pavement
layers from measured deflection bowl data.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
eighty-fifth percentile speed see speed
elastic modulus (Young’s A measure of the stiffness of a given material. The ratio, for small strains,
modulus, modulus of of the rate of change of stress with strain.
elasticity)
elastic stiffness The ratio of stress to recoverable strain under repeated loading
conditions.
elastomer A polymeric material, usually synthetic, which has elastic properties akin
to rubber.
electronic stability control Also known as electronic stability programs (ESP), ESC builds upon
(ESC) features such as anti-lock braking systems (ABS) and traction control to
stabilise the vehicle when it changes direction from that intended by the
driver.
electronic ticketing machine Equipment in a vehicle or on a station that enables customers to make a
(ETM) range of self service payments for electronic tickets
electronic toll collection Determines whether passing vehicles are registered in the program,
(ETC) alerts enforcers for those that are not, and electronically debits the
accounts of vehicle owners without requiring them to stop.
electronic vehicle pre- A preferential traffic signal control strategy provided to facilitate the flow
emption (EVP) and passage of certain vehicles e.g. buses or ambulances.
elemental manoeuvre The crossing, merging or diverging of two one-way one-lane traffic
streams.
elevated walkway A footpath substantially raised above the general level of surrounding
land, e.g. in the form of a pedestrian bridge.
embankment A construction (usually of earth or stone) to raise the ground (or
formation) level above the natural surface.
embayed parking A parking bay or bays formed by indenting and physically protecting the
parking from the general flow of traffic. Also commonly referred to as
indented parking.
embedment The process by which aggregate is pressed into the underlying surface
by traffic. For design purposes, the estimated total amount by which the
sealing aggregate will be pressed into the underlying surface during the
construction process as well as by traffic using the road after
construction.
emergency escape ramp A ramp designed to stop out-of-control vehicles, usually trucks, by using
reverse gradients (gravity type), arrester beds, or a combination of both
(see arrestor bed, gravity safety ramp).
emulsifier A chemical which aids in the dispersion and stabilisation of bitumen
particles in water or vice versa.
end gain Duration of the interval between the end of the displayed green period
and the end of the effective green period for a movement. This is used in
signal timing and performance analysis to allow for additional departures
after the end of the green period. Early cut-off time can be treated as an
end gain for the movement that is terminated at the end of the early cut-
off interval (see start loss).
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
entering sight distance The sight distance required for minor road drivers to enter or to cross a
(ESD) major road such that traffic on the major road is unimpeded. This is
based on the worst case, usually being a left or right turn manoeuvre.
entrained air (concrete) Bubbles of air in concrete, the purpose of which is to increase its
resistance to frost and salt.
entry angle The angle through which a design vehicle turns during the forward
manoeuvre before commencing the reverse manoeuvre into a parking or
service bay.
entry curve The left edge of the pavement curve of the entry carriageway which
leads vehicles into the circulating carriageway.
enumeration district see zone
environmental capacity Capacity of a road or area to accommodate moving and/or stationary
vehicles with regard to the need to maintain specified environmental
standards.
environmental cracking Cracking of a pavement due to environmental movements including
thermal effects, shrink/swell of pavement or subgrade, oxidation, ageing
or heaving due to plant growth, frost or chemical effects.
environmental impact A structured document which is prepared to identify and assess the
statement (EIS) environmental impacts of a proposed activity which is either designated
as development or ‘likely to significantly affect the environment’. It also
outlines safeguards to mitigate or control such impacts.
epoxy seal A light application of bitumen epoxy binder, with graded calcined bauxite
aggregate, for the purpose of improving the skid resistance of a road
surface.
equilibration Process of allowing for fluctuations in traffic demand.
equilibrium assignment Process of allocating the total number of trips between two zones to
minimum impedance paths or routes, which reflects a state of balance
between travel impedance and flow as determined by the assignment.
equilibrium moisture The moisture content which is reached in a soil in a particular
content environment after moisture movements have ceased.
equitable transport system Transport system in which different modes of transport are provided such
that there is an emphasis on the fair allocation of transport investment to
different groups within the community.
equivalent car unit see passenger car unit
equivalent standard axle(s) The number of standard axle loads that are equivalent in damaging effect
(ESA) on a pavement to a given vehicle or axle loading.
equivalent through car units see through car units
ESC see electronic stability control
ETC see electronic toll collection
ethylene vinyl acetate A polymer used in the modification of bitumen.
ETM see electronic ticketing machine
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
evaluation The process of determining whether the outcomes are desirable,
affordable or acceptable; properly involves those with an interest in the
result, or at least an overt consideration of their requirements (cf.
assessment).
EVP see emergency vehicle pre-emption
exclusive bicycle lane A lane designated for the exclusive use of cyclists generally located at
the side of a road.
exclusive lane A lane (or length of lane) allocated for use only by a particular movement
or a type of vehicle, e.g. left turn lane, through lane, right turn lane, bus
lane (see shared lane).
exclusive pedestrian phase The phase at an intersection during which all pedestrian displays are
green and all vehicle displays are red, allowing all pedestrian movements
to operate simultaneously while all vehicle movements are stopped (see
scramble-crossing phase).
exclusive turning lane A traffic lane allotted to traffic turning either to the left or to the right.
exit curve The left edge of the pavement curve of the exit carriageway which leads
vehicles out of the circulating carriageway.
exit test Test that must be passed prior to gaining one's fully licence.
expansion joint Pavement: a joint, normally filled with a resilient material, provided to
separate a base slab from adjoining slabs or structures to allow relative
movements to occur and prevent the build-up of stresses due to

expansion. Bridge: a joint provided to allow relative movement to occur
and to prevent the build-up of stresses due to expansion. May be of
various types depending on the movement to be accommodated.
exposed aggregate A concrete surface with exposed aggregate which is proud of the surface
concrete matrix.
expressway A road mainly for through traffic, usually dual carriageway with full or
partial control of access. Intersections are generally grade separated
(see freeway and motorway).
extension period The interval of variable length during the green period that begins after a
demand for another phase is registered following the minimum green
interval, and extends according to vehicle detector actuations subject to
a maximum green extension setting in the controller.
external cordon survey Cordon survey of a regional study area involving a roadside interview or
postcard survey with data related to traffic counts.
external traffic zone Traffic zone located outside the boundaries of the study area. Trips
crossing the study area boundary are allocated to the appropriate
external traffic zone in which they start or end.
external trip Trip that starts or ends outside the study area.
F
face see signal face
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
Falling Weight A vehicle mounted or towed device that records pavement surface
Deflectometer (FWD) deflection bowls at discrete test points on the pavement surface. Surface
deflections are measured at distances ranging from 0 mm to a user-
defined maximum (normally 1,500 mm) from the centre of an impulse
test load, which is applied to the pavement surface through a standard
loading plate normally 300 mm in diameter by a falling weight with a
variable drop height while the FWD is at rest. FWDs are generally
capable of imparting a load up to 150 kN.
false alarm rates (FAR) The number of false alarm signals as a percentage of tests performed by
an automatic incident detection algorithm.
FAR see false alarm rates
Fatal Four Refers to four common driver factors that contribute to crashes and road
fatalities: speeding, drink driving, fatigue and non-seatbelt wearing.
fatigue The deterioration of a bound pavement or other structure caused by the
action of repetitive traffic loading. Contributing factors are a weak
subgrade or embankment, inadequate pavement thickness, basecourse
saturation, excessive loading, poor quality surfacing and delamination.
See also driver fatigue.
fatigue cracking A visible crack in the wearing course (eventually resulting in an alligator
pattern) from the propagation of cracks caused by fatigue in the
underlying pavement layer.
fatty (asphalt) An asphalt containing an excess of binder or puddled-up fines.

faulting Relative vertical movement of slabs in a Portland cement concrete
pavement due to differential deformation.
FCD see floating car data
FCW see forward collision warning
feather edge The surface of the pavement layers between the shoulder hinge point
and the subgrade surface.
feathering The process by which a layer is blended into an existing surface.
fibre reinforced seal A seal consisting of a specially formulated polymer modified binder with
chopped glass fibres.
field density The density of earthworks or pavement material measured in situ
normally using a nuclear densometer.
fifth wheel A device, other than the upper rotating element and the kingpin (which
are parts of a semi-trailer), used with a prime mover, semi-trailer or
converter dolly to permit quick coupling and uncoupling, and provide for
articulation.
fill 1. The depth from the subgrade level to the natural surface. 2. That
portion of road where the formation is above the natural surface. 3. The
material placed in an embankment.
filler A fine silt sized material, the majority of which passes the 0.075 mm
sieve, derived from crushed aggregate or other similar granular material
and commonly used in slurry sealing and asphalt. Cement and lime can
also be used as filler.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
filter drain A drain in which the water flows through filter material instead of through
a pipe.
filter fabric A geotextile material which allows water to pass through but prevents the
passage of fines.
filter material Granular material with the grading selected so that it will allow water to
pass through it, while retaining solid matter.
filter turn A turning movement that must give way to and find safe gaps in
conflicting (opposing) vehicle or pedestrian traffic before proceeding, e.g.
filter right turn, slip-lane left turn, left turn on red. Also called opposed
turn.
filtering 1. The movement of one stream of vehicles across or into another
stream of vehicles or pedestrians by gap acceptance. 2. A permitted
turning movement at a signalised intersection, whether specifically
signalled or not, that must give way to and find safe gaps in conflicting
(opposing) vehicle or pedestrian traffic before proceeding. 3. Movement
of through traffic along local roads, usually to avoid congested areas on
the main arterial road system.
financial costs and benefits 1. Costs and benefits that have clear financial transactions and flows,
such as the costs of building, operating and maintaining the project. 2. A
narrower definition of costs than the economic costs and benefits, which
may include items such as the value of time savings, or the value of life.
fine aggregate A general term for aggregate that substantially passes the 4.75 mm
sieve. Mostly composed of sand.
fine crushed rock (FCR) A well graded soil aggregate produced by selectively crushing and
screening stone for use in pavement base construction, normally 19.0
mm to 26.5 mm maximum size. It needs to satisfy stringent grading,
Atterberg limits and CBR requirements.
fingerboard see direction sign
finishing-offset coordination Coordination of the end times of green periods using a signal offset that
equals the average uninterrupted travel time in the travel direction so as
to minimise delay along the route (see offset).
first coat seal An initial seal on a prepared basecourse which has not been primed.
first year rate of return The total discounted benefits from the first full year of operation of a
project, divided by discounted capital costs, expressed as a percentage.
fixed delay Delay to which vehicles are subjected during low traffic densities.
fixed route system Public transport system in which vehicles follow the same route on all
trips. Note: A fixed route system differs from such modes as taxis or
demand responsive transport, where each trip may use a variety of
routes even in its origin and destination.
fixed time (FT) The proportion of green time assigned to opposing arms at signalised
intersections is pre-set in accordance with historic traffic data. Different
green splits may be assigned at different times of the day or day-of-
week.
fixed time plan selection A signal coordination method that uses predetermined signal timing
plans introduced according to a weekly schedule or timetable.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
fixed time signal A traffic signal control method that allows for only a fixed sequence and
fixed duration of displays. Also known as fixed time control.
fixed-form paving Paving between fixed formwork and using manually operated equipment
such as internal vibrators and vibrating bull-floats. Also referred to as
‘manual’ and ‘hand’ paving.
flagperson A person authorised to control traffic movements through site works by
means of flags, lamps and other warning devices. Also known as traffic
control person and traffic controller.
Flakiness Index (FI) The percentage (by mass) of stones in an aggregate having an ALD
('average least dimension') of less than 0.6 times their average
dimension.
flaky aggregate An aggregate particle with a least dimension (thickness) less than 0.6 of
the mean of the smallest sieve size through which the particle passes
and the largest sieve size on which the particle is retained.
flared intersection An intersection where the road is widened to create one or more auxiliary
lanes for passing, storage or speed change.
flash point The lowest temperature at which the vapour of a substance momentarily
takes fire upon the application of a flame, but does not continue to burn,
as measured under specified test conditions.
flashing aspect A traffic signal aspect that flashes on and off with regular frequency when
displayed.
flashing control signal A traffic signal that displays red or flashing yellow aspects only.
flashing signal beacon see flashing control signal
flat channel A channel with a flat cross-section. Normally found in urban areas.
flexible pavement A pavement which obtains its load spreading properties mainly by
intergranular pressure, mechanical interlock and cohesion between the
particles of the pavement material. In the case of an asphalt pavement,
this further depends on the adhesion between the bitumen binder and
the aggregate, and the cohesion of that binder. Generally, any pavement
in which high strength Portland cement concrete is not used as a
construction layer.
flexilink The cableless linking mode of operation in the SCATS control system,
used to maintain a level of signal coordination in the event of failure of
the regional computer or parts of the communication system.
flexural modulus The ratio, within the elastic limit, of the applied stress on a test specimen
in flexure, to the corresponding strain in the outermost fibres of the
specimen.
flexural strength The property of material that indicates its ability to withstand a flexural
(bending) load.
floating car Vehicle that is driven so that it travels at the average speed of traffic on
the length of road, which is done by ensuring that the vehicle overtakes
as many other vehicles as those that overtake it.
floodway A longitudinal depression in a carriageway specially constructed to allow
the passage of floodwater across it without damage. The cross-section of
a stream in flood plus a nominated area for freeboard.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
flow The plastic deformation (mm) of a pavement layer under the continuous
action of a load or under repeated loading.
flow (Marshall) The deformation (mm) of the test cylinder at maximum load, during the
Marshall test.
flow diagram A diagram indicating the direction and magnitude of traffic streams.
flow map A map on which are plotted lines, whose widths indicate the volume of
traffic along existing or proposed routes.
flow rate Number of vehicles or pedestrians per unit time passing (arriving or
departing) a given reference point (see demand flow, traffic count, traffic
volume).
flow ratio The flow ratio of arrival (demand) flow rate to saturation flow rate during
a given flow period.
flush median A painted median that may be used to assist turning vehicles, or in some
cases crossing pedestrians, or to increase the separation of traffic
moving in different directions.
flushing A pavement surface defect in which the binder is near the top of the
aggregate particles. There is minimal surface texture. In severe cases,
the bitumen covers the aggregate.
flux oil A petroleum distillate added to bitumen to produce a long term reduction
in its viscosity.
fluxed bitumen A bitumen which has had its viscosity reduced by the addition of a flux
oil.
fly ash A fine-grained waste pozzolanic material generally obtained from the
combustion of pulverised coal in power stations. Fly ash can be used in
blended cement and in lime stabilisation.
foamed bitumen Hot bitumen temporarily greatly expanded in volume by the introduction
of steam or water. It can be used in stabilisation or spray seal
enrichment applications.
foamed bitumen seal A sprayed seal which uses foamed bitumen as the binder.
fog seal A very light enrichment seal.
following distance The distance from the front of a vehicle to the rear of the one ahead in
the same traffic lane.
follow-up headway The average headway between successive vehicles entering the same
gap in a moving traffic stream from a stationary queue.
footpath A public way reserved for the movement of pedestrians and of manually
propelled vehicles.
footpath (kerb) extension A local widening of the footpath, which results in a reduced width of
roadway to be crossed by pedestrians.
footway Pedestrian facility on a bridge.
ford A shallow place in a stream where the bed may be crossed by traffic.
form To shape earthworks to specified levels and dimensions.
formation The surface of the finished earthworks, excluding cut or fill batters.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
formed joint All joints except for induced joints. This includes slip-formed and fix-
formed joints and edges.
formwork Temporary structure of timber, metal or other material comprising the
moulds in which concrete is formed to the desired shape.
forward collision warning Microwave radar and machine vision technology help detect and avert
(FCW) vehicle collisions. These systems typically use in-vehicle displays or
audible alerts to warn drivers of unsafe following distances. If a driver
does not properly apply brakes in a critical situation, some systems
automatically assume control and apply the brakes in an attempt to avoid
a collision.
foundation The soil or rock upon which a structure rests.
fractured face A relatively planar surface of an aggregate particle which appears broken
(as by crushing action) and not rounded, and the area of which is
significant enough to affect the characteristics of the particle.
frame district The district that surrounds or frames the central activities or central
business district.
frangible Roadside furniture designed to collapse on impact. The severity of
potential injuries to the occupants of an impacting vehicle is reduced,
compared to those that could occur if the furniture was unyielding.
fratar distribution see growth factor model
free speed The speed adopted by a driver when not influenced by the presence of
other traffic.
free water 1. Water that is free to move through soil material or a pavement under
the influence of gravity. 2. Water in a concrete mix which is not absorbed
by the aggregate.
freeway A divided highway with no access for traffic between interchanges and
with grade separation at all intersections.
freight capacity Maximum payload volume which a vehicle may carry.
French drain (Maori drain) A drain formed of a trench typically 1 m deep by 0.6 m wide containing a
porous or open-jointed pipe laid on, and backfilled with, a porous
material. The drain is typically used for the collection of surface or ground
water.
fretting The loss of aggregate from asphalt or a sprayed seals, with or without
binder attached, caused by the brittle fracture of the binder film under or
around aggregate particles.
friction The gradual weathering and loss of soil and rock materials in a road
cutting over time. Resistance to the relative movement of one body (e.g.
tyre) sliding, rolling or flowing over another body (e.g. pavement surface)
with which it is in contact.
front overhang (heavy The distance measured horizontally and parallel to the longitudinal axis
vehicle) of the vehicle between the foremost point of the vehicle and equipment at
the centre of the axle at the front of the vehicle.
frontage see property line
frontage road Road providing access to and fronting an off-street car parking facility.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
frontal swing (heavy In a low-speed turn the front overhang of the hauling unit (rigid truck,
vehicle) prime mover, bus and coach) will generally cause the path of the front
outside corner to track outboard the path of the front outside steered
wheel.
frost-heave The movement of a pavement or soil surface caused by the freezing of
the water within it.
FT see fixed time
full barrier fence A fence provided to generally prevent access to a slope or fall which due
to the height of the fall, the existence of obstacles or grade of the batter,
could result in injury.
full control Control of a turning movement using three-aspect (red, yellow, green)
turn arrows on a six-aspect signal face, where the green arrow indicates
that the vehicle can turn unopposed (with no opposing vehicle or
pedestrian traffic) and the red arrow indicates that the vehicle is not
permitted to turn (filter turns not permitted).
full depth asphalt pavement A pavement in which asphalt is used for all courses above the subgrade
or improved subgrade.
full diamond interchange See diamond interchange
full licence Licence with fewer restrictions than a learner permit or
probationary/provisional licence that is typically obtained after passing
through the stages of learner and probationary/provisional licensing.
full width pavement The pavement covers the full width of the formation and is not
constrained at the edges, as is the case in boxed construction.
fully-actuated control see traffic-actuated control
fully-adaptive control A signal coordination method that generates appropriate signal timing
plans on-line in a continuously variable fashion using extensive data
provided by vehicle detectors.
functional classification Classification of roads into groups according to their function, ranging
from, for example, principal routes for communication between major
regions and capital cities, to those roads which provide almost
exclusively for local residential traffic. Also known as road amenity
classification.
funnelling The effect of gradual reduction in the width of a carriageway.
Furness Distribution see growth factor model
furniture The equipment such as sign posts, median kerbs, lighting poles, etc.,
which is installed to make the road network work more effectively.
G
gabion A wire basket filled with stones used to retain earth or to control scour. A
certain type is termed a rock-fill wire mattress.
gap Time interval between the departure at a point of one vehicle and the
arrival at the same point of the next vehicle.
gap acceptance The acceptance of a gap in a traffic stream by a driver or pedestrian
wishing to enter or cross that traffic stream or a driver in the opposing
traffic stream wishing to overtake (see critical acceptance gap).
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
gap change A change of aspect in traffic-actuated signals, which occurs for a phase
upon expiry of the maximum running period when there is a gap in the
main traffic stream.
gap distance The following distance between two successive vehicles as measured
between the rear end of one vehicle and the front end of the next vehicle
in the same traffic lane (spacing less vehicle length).
gap setting A controller setting equivalent to a predetermined space time measured
between successive vehicles at the given (approach) speed, detection
zone length and vehicle length values (see space time).
gap spacing The spatial distribution of gaps in a flow of traffic.
gap-graded aggregate A graded aggregate in which one or more of the intermediate sizes are
absent or present in small proportions.
gap-graded asphalt An asphalt mix in which gap-graded aggregate is used.
gap-graded material Graded material in which one or more of the intermediate sizes are
absent.
GBFS see granulated blast furnace slag
General Mass Limits (GML) The heavy vehicle axle mass limits that apply to public roads in Australia
unless otherwise limited by load restriction signs.
generalised cost Measure of the composite cost of a trip by a motorist or user of public
transport where the travel time and out-of-pocket costs are expressed in
monetary units, which involve the estimation of the monetary value of

time and the perceived cost of access, transfer, waiting and egress time
associated with public transport.
generated traffic 1. Traffic created by a new or improved facility as distinct from traffic that
is diverted to a facility and normal traffic increase. 2. Traffic created by
changes in land use.
geographic information A map based system that enables display of layers of data for various
system (GIS) analysis purposes.
geogrid A polymer mesh of very open netlike configuration intended for use as a
reinforcement in soil, rockfill or pavements.
geophone A seismic instrument used in site investigations. It is an inherent
component of the Falling Weight Deflectometer.
geosynthetic A generic term used for synthetic materials designed for applications
such as drainage, filtrations, separation and strengthening. They can be
subdivided into various groups, e.g. geotextiles, geogrids, geostrips,
geomembranes, etc.
geotextile A synthetic fabric used for various purposes including embankment
reinforcing and stabilisation, as a filter layer between dissimilar materials
and as a strain alleviating membrane.
geotextile reinforced seal An application of a bituminous binder into which both aggregate and
geotextile are incorporated to provide a durable wearing surface. A layer
of binder is applied first, followed by a layer of geotextile fabric, then a
second coat of binder, followed by the aggregate.
GIS see geographic information system
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
give-way line A broken line (double continuous lines in New Zealand, known as limit
line) marked across all or part of a road, behind which vehicles should
slow down and give way to opposing traffic (see stop line).
glare screen Device usually erected or located in a median to screen the glare caused
by oncoming headlights.
global positioning system A system, based on satellite signals, for identifying the x, y, z coordinate
(GPS) location of object(s).
gore A triangular area where two roads either meet or split.
governance The act or manner of governing a project with due account to the
relevant legislation, procedures and guidelines that are in place.
grade 1. A length of carriageway sloping longitudinally. 2. The rate of
longitudinal rise (or fall) of a carriageway with respect to the horizontal,
expressed as a percentage. 3. To design the longitudinal profile of a
road. 4. To secure a predetermined level or inclination to a road or other
surface. 5. To shape or smooth an earth, gravel, or other surface by
means of a grader or similar implement. 6. To mix aggregates according
to a particle size distribution.
grade line A vertical section, usually with an exaggerated vertical scale, showing
the existing surface levels along a road centreline, or other specified line.
It commonly also shows the levels to which the road is to be constructed
or reconstructed.
grade separation The separation of road, rail or other traffic so that crossing movements,
which would otherwise conflict, are at different elevations (see overpass,
underpass).
gradeability The grade that a vehicle is capable of ascending at a designated speed,
which is the summation of rolling resistance, air resistance and chassis
friction horsepowers deducted from the net engine horsepower,
corrected for altitude, divided by the gross vehicle or combination mass
and then deducting a road factor dependent on road type and condition.
graded aggregate Aggregates having a distribution of sizes from coarse to fine, the largest
size being several times larger than the smallest size.
grader A mechanised, wheeled machine with a movable blade mounted
centrally between the axles, used to shape or level surfaces.
gradient The longitudinal slope of a road or path, usually represented as the ratio
of a one metre rise to the horizontal distance (e.g. I : 50), or expressed
as a percentage (e.g. 2%).
grading (aggregate) The quantities of the various particle sizes present in a mineral
(particle size distribution) aggregate, expressed as a percentage by mass of the whole.
grading (earthworks) The operation of cutting and spreading material with a grader.
grading envelope The area between two limiting grading curves.
graduated (driver) licensing A series of driving permits and licences which require the bearer to pass
system a test, or hold the licence for a specified period with no violations in order
to graduate to the next level. Each level gradually allows the bearer more
independence and exposure to more risky driving environments and
behaviours (such as driving at higher speeds, driving more powerful
vehicles, driving with (more) passengers etc.).
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
granite A hard igneous rock composed mainly of feldspar and quartz, used to
produce crushed aggregate for pavements and concrete.
granular material Gravel or crushed rock graded so as to be mechanically stable, workable
and able to be compacted. They usually contain small amounts of silt
and clay.
granular pavement A pavement which obtains its load spreading properties mainly by
intergranular pressure, mechanical interlock and cohesion between the
particles of the pavement material, which is gravel or crushed rock
graded so as to be mechanically stable, workable and able to be
compacted. Generally has a particle size no smaller than sand.
granulated blast furnace Slag which has been lightly ground to produce a cement-like powder
slag (GBFS)
graphical route information Used to provide route information to help drivers make better route
panel (GRIP) choice with regards to current road traffic conditions. GRIPs use
graphical information to represent the current traffic conditions of a
particular area within the road network to convey traffic messages
instead of text.
grass verge Grass area on side of road.
grate A grid of metal or other suitable material to prevent debris from entering
a drain or pit or mud tank and to provide protection for pedestrians and
vehicles.
gravel A mixture of mineral particles ranging in size from 60 mm to 2 mm.

gravel pit A site for the extraction and/or crushing of gravel.
gravity model Mathematical model of trip distribution based on the premise that trips
produced in any given area will distribute themselves in accordance with
the accessibility of other areas and the number of opportunities they
offer.
gravity safety ramp A ramp that relies solely on an ascending grade to reduce the speed of
an out-of-control vehicle (see emergency escape ramp).
gravity wall A retaining wall that has sufficient self-weight to resist overturning forces.
green band see bandwidth
green pedestrian light 1. An illuminated green pedestrian symbol. 2. The word ‘walk’
illuminated in green (whether or not flashing).
green pedestrian symbol A symbol consisting of a picture of a pedestrian.
green strength Cohesive strength developed in the binder at any time between
application and complete cure.
green time Duration of the green display for a phase or a movement at traffic signals
(see effective green and red times).
GRIP see graphical route information panel
gritting Fine angular aggregate, usually passing the 4.75 mm sieve. The
application of fine sharp aggregate or sand to a pavement.
groove Narrow depression or rut in what is otherwise a relatively flat and smooth
riding surface, which could catch a bicycle wheel where it is parallel to
the direction of travel.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
gross combination mass 1. The maximum laden mass of a motor vehicle combination as specified
(GCM) by the manufacturer. 2. The maximum of the sum of the gross vehicle
mass of the drawing vehicle plus the sum of the axle mass of any vehicle
capable of being drawn as a trailer.
gross trailer mass (GTM) The mass transmitted to the ground by the axle or axles of the trailer
when coupled to a drawing vehicle and carrying its maximum loading
approximately uniformly distributed over the load-bearing area, and at
which compliance with the appropriate Australian Design Rules has
been, or can be, established.
gross vehicle mass (GVM) Tare weight (unladen weight) of the motor vehicle plus its maximum
carrying capacity.
ground level The reduced level of any particular point on the surface of the ground.
grouting The operation of pouring or forcing binders such as bitumen, cement
slurry or epoxy materials into the interstices of a pavement surfacing, a
structure or a natural formation.
growth factor Ratio of future trip ends to present trip ends.
growth factor model Method of distributing trip ends based on the growth factor of the origin
and destination and on the given trip interchanges.
guardrail A rail erected to restrain vehicles that are out of control.
guide post A post used to indicate the edge of a carriageway.
guide sign A sign which is erected to inform and advise road users of directions,
distances, destinations, routes and location of services for road users,
and points of interest.
guideway Channel or track for controlling the lateral movement of a vehicle.
guideway systems Combination of guideways that are used by one transport mode for all or
part of its route. Guideway systems in operation or under development
are usually classified by the type of support system used, as follows: 1.
steel rails for steel wheels, e.g. tramway, railway. 2. concrete steel beam
for rubber tyres, e.g. monorail. 3. concrete trough for rubber tyres, e.g.
O-bahn. 4. metal stator beam for magnetically levitated vehicles.
gully pit (gully trap) A concrete pit at the end of a water channel to settle out solids before the
flow enters a pipe drain. A hole or depression into which water is
drained.
H
hairline crack Road: an irregularly running, thin, narrow, crevice or fissure at the
surface of a concrete or clay product, not penetrating deeply. Bridge: a
crack less than 0.05 mm in width.
half-diamond interchange The reduced level of any particular point on the surface of the ground.
hand sprayer Spraying equipment which discharges binder through a jet at the end of a
hand-held lance.
handover The act of handing over responsibility for the operation and maintenance
of assets resulting from a project, from one entity to another.
hardness The ability of a material to resist penetration and surface wear.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
harsh (asphalt mix) An asphalt mix having low workability due to its high level of stability
resulting in difficulty in placing and compaction.
haul The distance through which material is transported between points of
loading and unloading.
hazard marker A rectangular sign marked with a series of alternate black and white
bands or chevrons, to indicate an obstruction within or adjacent to the
carriageway.
hazard perception test Increasingly common component of the driver licensing system in
(HPT) jurisdictions around Australia and New Zealand. Examinees view a video
of a road scene, from the perspective of being in the driver seat. The aim
is to check that the licence applicant can recognise and react
appropriately to various traffic hazards such as other vehicles,
pedestrians and cyclists.
hazard warning lights A pair of yellow direction indicator lights fitted to a vehicle, which display
regular flashes of light at the same time, and at the same rate as each
other, but does not include warning lights fitted to a bus used for carrying
children.
hazardous road location see crash location
HDM (HDM-4) The Highway Development Model of the World Bank originally developed
for use in developing countries. It enables assessment of the extent and
consequences of the condition of a highway network. Comprehensive
road inventories are used in its development, and factors such as vehicle
operating costs are taken into consideration. HDM-4 was released in
2000.
head-up display (HUD) A head-up display is any transparent display that presents data without
obstructing the user's view.
head wall A retaining wall at the end of a culvert.
headway Time gap between successive vehicles in a traffic stream (measured at
the same point on the two vehicles). Headway and gap are often used
synonymously.
headway distance see spacing
headway setting A controller setting equivalent to a predetermined space time measured
between successive vehicles at the given (saturation, or queue
discharge) speed, detection zone length and vehicle length values (see
space time).
heave The upward movement of soil resulting from expansion or displacement
caused by absorption, freezing of soil moisture and operations such as
removal of overburden, pile driving and embankment construction.
heavily bound base A bound pavement having a minimum unconfined compressive strength
(UCS) value of 4 MPa.
heavily trafficked road A road carrying average annual daily traffic (AADT) of more than 1,500
vehicles.
heavy bus A bus with a gross vehicle mass (GVM) exceeding a mass specified in
individual State legislation and regulations (normally more than 5 t).
heavy goods vehicle Any goods vehicle having a gross vehicle mass exceeding 12 t.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
heavy vehicle 1. A two-axle vehicle with the minimum axle spacing greater than 3.2 m,
or a three- or more-axle vehicle configured at least with two axle groups
(excluding short towing vehicles, e.g. trailer, caravan, boats, etc.). 2. A
vehicle having a gross vehicle mass exceeding 4.5 tonne. 3. A Class 3
or higher classification vehicle.
Heavy Weight A device similar to the Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD), but capable
Deflectometer (HWD) of imparting a greater load, up to 250 kN.
high-alcohol hours see alcohol hours
high bitumen content A bitumen emulsion with a bitumen content of at least 67%.
emulsion
high float emulsion An anionic emulsion which has a quality, imparted by the addition of
certain chemicals, that permits a thicker binder film on the aggregate
particles with minimum probability of drainage.
high-occupancy toll (HOT) A toll enacted on single occupancy vehicles wishing to use lanes or
entire roads that are designated for the use of high occupancy vehicles.
high-occupancy vehicle Road vehicle carrying a driver and a number of passengers equal to or
(HOV) greater than a number specified by legislation for special purpose traffic
lanes.
high shoulder A road fault in which the shoulder is too high relative to the carriageway.
high speed transient off- The lateral distance that the last axle on the rear trailer tracks outside the
setting path of the steer axle in a sudden evasive manoeuvre.

high stress seal (HSS) A bituminous seal, or reseal, treatment which is subject to heavier than
normal traffic loading due to braking, accelerating and turning vehicles.
Usually an S10E binder is used.
higher mass limits (HML) The heavy vehicle axle mass limits available on approved routes
provided the axles have certified ‘road friendly’ suspensions and the
vehicle operates under an approved mass management scheme.
highest hourly volume The highest hourly volume of any continuing 60 minute period over a
(HHV) whole year. HHV is usually rated in terms of an ‘nth’ highest hour
volume, meaning the hourly traffic volume (veh/h) exceeded in only ‘n’
hours of a year. The 30th and 80th highest hourly volumes (denoted as
30 HV and 80 HV respectively) are commonly used parameters in
assessing the design volume for setting the capacity of a traffic facility.
This probabilistic concept is chosen because it is uneconomic, if not
impossible, to design a facility realistically to meet the highest traffic flow
rate.
highway 1. A road where traffic has the right to pass and owners of abutting
property have access. 2. A principal road in a road system.
highway network see road network
hinge point The point in the cross-section of a road at which the extended batter line
would intersect the extended verge line.
hire and reward transport Freight transported for financial reward by freight transport operators
whose main business is to provide such a service to clients.
holding line A broken transverse pavement marking which shows motorists where the
front of their vehicle should be if they have to wait to enter part of an
intersection.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
holding rail A rail used by cyclists to assist them to avoid having to remove/detach
their feet/shoes from their pedals, so they can wait in a ready position
(for cycling) at intersections.
home-based trip Trip that starts or finishes at home.
home-interview survey Survey in which information on the characteristics of the household and
its trip-making patterns is obtained by interviewing representatives of
households in their homes.
hook (box) turn Where a driver/rider approaches and enters an intersection adjacent to
the left edge of a road, until as near as practicable to the far edge of the
road that the driver/rider is entering. Then, the driver/rider proceeds
along the entering road with a green light or otherwise after giving way to
approaching vehicles.
hoon laws The popular name for legislation intended to give police more power to
deal with ‘hoon’ offences, for example: participation in a race or speed
trial; dangerous driving committed in circumstances involving intentional
loss of traction; careless driving; failure to have proper control of the
motor vehicle; causing a motor vehicle to make excessive noise or
smoke; driving at extreme speeds; intentionally driving in a manner to
cause loss of traction to one or more wheels; and in some jurisdictions,
driving while disqualified. In some jurisdictions, the police have been
given the power to immediately impound the vehicle for a pre-specified
period.
horizontal alignment The bringing together of the straights and curves in the plan view of a
carriageway.
horizontal curve A curve in the plan or horizontal alignment of a carriageway.
horizontal device Any treatment involving horizontal deflections or carriageway deviations
aimed at influencing driver behaviour through change of path (including
angled slow points, central blisters and the like).
HOT see high-occupancy toll
hot in place asphalt A rehabilitation treatment involving removal of old asphaltic concrete,
recycling (HIPAR) processing, heating and mixing with new aggregates and binder, with or
without the addition of recycling agent, relaying and compacting to meet
specification requirements.
hot rolled asphalt A special kind of sheet asphalt containing coarse aggregate, used for
surfacing heavily-trafficked pavements in the UK.
HOV see high-occupancy vehicle
HPT see hazard perception test
Hubbard-Field method A laboratory design procedure for measuring the stability and voids of
asphalt mixes containing aggregate up to 40 mm in size (now
superseded).
HUD see head-up display
human powered vehicles The array of alternative forms of pedal powered and hand cranked
vehicles including recumbents, tandems, tricycles, and bicycles with
trailers.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
hungry seal A surface condition in which the aggregate is proud of the surface and
the binder is approximately half way up the sides of the aggregate
particles.
hydrated lime (slaked lime) Calcium hydroxide Ca(OH)2. Also referred to as slaked lime. Supplied in
powdered form. Used in lime stabilisation and as an additive in asphalt.
hydration Treatment or impregnation with water.
hydrocarbons Organic compounds containing carbon and hydrogen.
hydrophilic aggregate Aggregate which shows a relatively high affinity for water.
hydrophobic material Material showing no affinity for water, e.g. bitumen.
I
IAP see intelligent access program
ignition point The temperature at which the vapour of a substance such as bitumen
takes fire and continues to burn under specified test conditions.
ILD see inductive loop detector
illuminance The luminous flux incident on a surface per unit area.
impedance Measure of the difficulty of travelling through a network, which can be
travel time, distance, cost, or a combination or these.
impermeable A material which cannot be penetrated by a fluid such as air or water.

improved subgrade A subgrade, the load-carrying capacity of which has been increased by
the addition of suitable material, e.g. bitumen, lime, cement, sand or
aggregate.
in situ An operation carried out on a material in its final position.
in situ stabilisation Stabilisation carried out in situ.
incremental assignment Process in which trips are allocated to minimum impedance paths in a
number of steps with an increment of total trips in each step. Travel
impedance is adjusted between each step to reflect the expected flow.
incremental benefit-cost The ratio of the present value of incremental benefit to the present value
ratio of incremental cost.
A suggested interim set of condition levels for use as an interim
surrogate to define terminal structural condition or the onset of pavement
failure, for the purpose of determining the remaining structural capacity
or structural life of a pavement. Planning for maintenance intervention at
indicative investigation these condition levels is intended as a means of managing the risk of
condition levels accelerating deterioration.
indirect benefits Used to describe a wide range of second order effects such as impacts
on land-use development, employment, fuel conservation. Note: Care
should always be taken not to ‘double count’ benefits by including a
direct economic benefit and then count it again as an indirect benefit,
when converted to another form (e.g. travel time savings may be
converted into increased land values).
induced traffic Additional traffic resulting from some improvement in a road or in traffic
arrangements.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
inductive loop detector Consists of one or more loops of wire embedded in the pavement and
(ILD) connected to a control box. When a vehicle passes over or rests on the
loop, the inductance of the loop is reduced showing the presence of a
vehicle. The data supplied by inductive loop detectors are vehicle
passage, presence, count, and occupancy. For incident detection, loop
data is usually relayed to a traffic center for analysis with a computer
based Automatic Incident Detection algorithm.
inert material The components of a mixture which exhibit no binding or cementitious
properties or chemical reaction.
inertial profilometer A profilometer which relies on accelerometers (sensors which measure
acceleration) to indicate the shape of the profile being surveyed. On
modern inertial non-contact profilometers, accelerometers measure the
vertical motion of the vehicle, ensuring that the reported road profile
(usually measured by laser, optical or ultrasonic sensor) is independent
of the vehicle dynamics.
information sign A sign for the purpose of giving information, not being a warning or
regulatory sign indicating a feature such as a town or river.
infringement Breach of law.
initial running period The duration of that portion of an interval in traffic-actuated signals,
during which no change of aspect can occur.
initial seal (first coat seal) A seal placed on a prepared basecourse which has not been primed.
in-line blending Addition of dilutent to the binder while it is being pumped through a pipe.
inscribed circle The circle that may be inscribed within the outer kerb line of the
circulating carriageway. This may not always be truly circular.
installation A sequence of devices which in some way interact with each other (e.g.
closely-spaced humps calculated to maintain a low and consistent target
speed along the street).
institutional district The district located adjacent to the central activities or central business
district that is dominated by government institutional uses.
integral shoulder A concrete shoulder, which is of the same composition and thickness as
the concrete base pavement.
intelligent access program In Australia, the IAP provides for improved heavy vehicle access to the
(IAP) road network in return for monitoring, by vehicle telematics, of their
compliance with specific access conditions.
intelligent speed adaptation ISA is a combination of technological systems that support drivers in their
(ISA) choice of travel speeds. While there are varying terms used worldwide to
describe the forms of ISA systems, Australian road agencies have
agreed to adopt the following common language:
Advisory ISA – systems that remind drivers of the prevailing speed limit
and exert no control over the vehicle
Supportive ISA – systems that provide some degree of vehicle initiated
limiting of speed, but allow the driver to override the system
Limiting ISA – systems that include vehicle initiated speed limiting that
cannot be overridden (usually accompanied by an emergency failure
function).
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
Intelligent Transport A broad range of communications-based information, control, and
Systems (ITS) electronics technologies integrated into the transportation system
infrastructure, and in vehicles, to help monitor and manage traffic flow,
reduce congestion, provide alternate routes to travellers, enhance
productivity, and save lives, time, and money.
intensity see luminous intensity
intensity of rainfall The rainfall in a unit of time.
interactance model Variation of the gravity model using a series of curves to represent trip
interaction between land uses of varying intensity.
interceptor drain A type of side drain that prevents water from flowing towards the road
and is normally sited away from the road.
interchange A grade separation of two or more roads with one or more
interconnecting carriageways.
interchange ramp A carriageway within an interchange providing for travel between two
arms (legs) of the intersecting roads.
interchanging Process of changing from one mode of transport to another mode to
complete a journey (see modal interchange, public transport nodes).
inter-green time Duration of the clearance part of the phase corresponding to the period
between the phase change point (the end of running intervals) and the
beginning of the green display for the next phase (end of phase).
Normally, it comprises yellow time and all-red interval. The early cut-off
green interval that follows the phase change point is also considered to
be part of the inter-green time.
interlock see alcohol interlock
interlocking pavement A pavement consisting of a surfacing of interlocking pavers.
interlocking pavers Shaped or rectangular concrete or clay units laid on a layer of bedding
sand and forming the surface of a flexible pavement or an overlay of an
existing pavement.
intermediate course A course between the base and the wearing course of a pavement.
intermediate sight distance The distance required for two oncoming drivers on a two-way road to
stop before contact with the other vehicle.
internal trip Trip that starts and ends in the study area.
international roughness A mathematical model of the dynamic response of a real vehicle
index (IRI) travelling along a single wheelpath of longitudinal road profile (referred to
as the quarter-car, or World Bank, model). It is expressed in terms of
accumulated displacement of the simulated suspension in metres per
measured kilometre (m/km).
international roughness A composite IRI value representing the roughness of a road lane section.
index (lane IRI) It is determined by averaging two individual Single Track IRI values
obtained separately in each wheelpath of a lane (at 0.75 m either side of
the centre of the lane mid-track).
international roughness The IRI based on a quarter-car model run at 80 km/h over a single
index (single track) wheelpath of longitudinal profile.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
International Study of An international project for the development of HDM-4, based at the
Highway Development and University of Birmingham, UK, administered by PIARC in Paris, and
Management (ISODHM) funded by the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, British Department
for International Development, Swedish Government and others.
inter-red period The period of time between the start of the green phase and the crossing
of the stop line by the last vehicle in that phase.
interrupted flow Condition of traffic flow on a road in which factors external to the traffic
stream itself affect the traffic flow, such as an intersecting traffic stream
having priority, signals, railway crossings, trams and pedestrian
crossings.
intersection The place at which two or more roads meet or cross.
intersection (at-grade) An intersection where carriageways cross at a common level.
intersection angle 1. The angle between two intersecting roads. 2. The angles between the
centrelines of two intersecting carriageways.
intersection arm see intersection leg
intersection count see intersection leg
intersection crossing time The period it takes to pass through an intersection, from the point of
entering a signalised intersection (from the stop bar) to the last point of
conflict with another legal movement of traffic (including pedestrians).
intersection leg Any one of the carriageways radiating from and forming part of an
intersection.
intersection point The point where the two tangents to a curve or two grades meet.
intersectional friction The retarding effect on traffic movement caused by potential and actual
traffic conflicts at an intersection, or the merging of two moving streams
of traffic.
interval A period during which a particular green, yellow or red aspect is
displayed to a traffic movement.
intervening opportunities Mathematical model for distributing trips based on the assumption that
model the trips originating in any zone will distribute themselves to other zones
in proportion to the probability that the trips have not found a prior
destination and that they will be as short as possible.
interview survey Survey in which the means of data collection is by interview with drivers
or other members of the public.
interzonal time Total time to travel between zones consisting of the terminal times at
each end of the trip plus the driving time.
interzonal trip Trip between two zones.
intrazonal time Average time of travel for trips beginning and ending in the same zone,
including the terminal time at each end of the trip.
intrazonal trip Trip with both its origin and destination in the same zone.
in-vehicle safety and Provide drivers with advance, supplemental notification of dangerous
warning systems (IVSAWS) road conditions using electronic warning zones with precise areas of
coverage.
in-vehicle survey Survey in which passengers of public transport modes (e.g. bus, train,
ferry) are interviewed while travelling in the vehicle.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
in-vehicle time Time spent travelling in a vehicle.
in-vehicle unit (IVU) Unit within a vehicle that interacts with roadside or satellite signals.
invert The lowest portion of the internal surface of a drain or culvert.
inverted emulsion A type of emulsion in which water is suspended in a finely dispersed
state in bitumen.
investigatory level (skid The level of skid resistance at or below which a site investigation is to be
resistance) undertaken.
irradiation Blurring of the edges of a bright object viewed adjacent to a dark
background.
ISA see intelligent speed adoption
ISOHDM see International Study of Highway Development and Management
isolation joint A joint between a base slab and other parts of the pavement or structure
to prevent stress due to expansion or contraction or other structural
movements.
isotropic A material having properties that are equal in all directions.
iterative assignment Process in which all trips are allocated to minimum impedance paths, the
travel impedance is adjusted to reflect the flow, and the allocation is
repeated.
ITS see Intelligent Transport Systems
IVSAWS see in-vehicle safety advisory and warning systems

IVU see in-vehicle unit
J
jiggle bars see safety bars and rumble strips
joint 1. A planned discontinuity in the wearing surface, other than an edge,
caused by the overlap or butting together of two materials. This is
usually associated with conventional sprayed sealing, geotextile or fibre
reinforced sealing and slurry surfacing work. 2. A well-defined fracture or
crack in a rock mass, along which there has been no significant
movement. 3. The gap between adjoining sections of prestresses
concrete construction, usually filled with epoxy resin or concrete.
joint sealant Material used to prevent entry of water, debris or foreign matter into a
joint of a structure.
jointed reinforced concrete A concrete pavement which is typically mesh reinforced, with square
pavement (JRCP) dowelled joints at spacings of 8 to 12 m. The longitudinal reinforcement
does not cross the transverse joints.
journey Movement involving one or more trips e.g. 1. ‘journey-to-work’, which
could involve a direct trip to work or an immediate stop for some other,
but secondary purpose; or 2. an ‘origin-to-origin’ journey, which could
involve several trips, each for a particular purpose. Note: Home-to-home
journeys have also been termed ‘tours’.
journey leg Part of a multi-modal journey covered by only one mode of travel. Note:
A journey leg is an unlinked trip that forms part of a longer journey; e.g. a
journey may consist of a walk leg, followed by a bus leg, a train leg and
another walk leg.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
journey time The time taken to travel between two specified points on a route,
excluding the time for any stoppages other than those due to
interruptions by traffic.
journey-to-work survey Information extracted from the national census, which includes where
people live and work, their industry, occupation and sex.
judder bars Rounded ridges on the road surface positioned to encourage drivers to
appropriately control vehicle position or speed.
junction The place at which two or more roads meet.
K
k value The length required for a 1% change of grade on a parabolic vertical
curve.
kea crossing A part-time school crossing used in New Zealand which only operates
when a school patrol and two fluorescent orange crossing point flag
signs (one on each side of the road) are present.
kerb A raised border of rigid material formed at the edge of a carriageway,
pavement or bridge.
kerb and channel The kerb and channel combine to form an open drain to capture and
discharge run-off.
kerb blister A bulge introduced in an existing kerbline to narrow the approach or
departure carriageway adjoining a roundabout. It is generally used to

limit the maximum radius (and hence speed) that can be used by a
vehicle when negotiating a roundabout.
kerb clearances A distance by which the kerb should be set back in order to maintain the
maximum capacity of the traffic lane.
kerb extension see footpath (kerb) extension.
kerosene (cutter) A light petroleum distillate added to bitumen to temporarily reduce its
viscosity.
kilometre post see distance marker
kingpin Pin attached to the skid plate of a semi-trailer, and used for connecting
the semi-trailer to the fifth wheel of a towing vehicle.
kiss-and-ride System in which people are driven in a car to a specified location to
board public transport after which the car is driven away. See park-and-
ride.
kneeling bus A bus that can be lowered closer to the kerb to allow easier boarding by
the elderly and by some people with disabilities.
L
laden mass Mass of a vehicle and its load borne on the surface on which it is
standing or running.
lag The interval of time from the instant one vehicle is in position to accept or
reject the opportunity to enter a manoeuvre area until the arrival of a
vehicle conflicting with it into the same manoeuvre area.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
lagging right turn An arrow-controlled right turn movement that is started and terminated in
the phase that immediately follows the phase in which the opposing
through movement runs.
laitance A deleterious layer of material formed from the constituents of concrete
which may collect on the surface of the concrete soon after placing.
LAMP Local area management plan (see local area traffic management)
landslide A movement of the surface of a hillside, resulting from natural causes.
land use Use to which land is put, e.g. residential, commercial, open space. In
transport analysis the term encompasses measures of social and
economic activity that take place on the land, e.g. size of population,
number of employees.
land-use planning Way in which planners recommend that land resources be utilised
whether by housing, commerce, industry, etc.
lane A portion of the paved carriageway marked out by kerbs, painted lines or
barriers, which carries a single line of vehicles in one direction. A lane is
generally between 3.0 and 3.5 m wide. A single carriageway road
normally has at least one lane in each direction.
lane control signal A signal face mounted above a lane in an overhead lane control scheme,
which is used to control the direction of vehicle flow in the lane during a
particular time.
lane control system (LCS)

lane group A set of lanes allocated to a particular movement in exclusive lanes, or to
several movements with common shared lanes.
lane IRI A combination of the surface profiles of two wheel tracks. There are two
methods to calculate Lane IRI, viz Lane IRIqc (quarter car) and Lane IRIhc
(half car). Austroads favours the quarter-car method, with the Lane IRIqc
commonly expressed as IRI.
lane line A line (usually painted), other than the centreline, that divides adjacent
traffic lanes.
lane narrowings Methods to narrow the width of the road to reduce speed and pedestrian
crossing distances.
lane numbering On a multilane road-way, the traffic lanes available for through traffic
travelling in the same direction are numbered from left to right, when
facing in the direction of traffic flow.
lane occupancy The proportion of time, over a given time interval, that there is a vehicle
present at a specified point in the lane.
lane separator A separator provided between lanes carrying traffic in the same direction
to discourage or prevent lane changing, or to separate a portion of a
speed change lane from through lanes.
lane-control signal A signal face mounted above a lane in an overhead lane control-scheme,
which is used to control the direction of vehicle flow in the lane during a
particular time.
Austroads 2008
— 68 —
Term Definition
lane control system (LCS) Consisting of overhead lane specific signals denoting a red ‘X’ if travel in
the lane is prohibited, and a green arrow if travel is permitted, these
signals symbolically display the current status of each freeway lane to
inform motorists of the condition of the lanes downstream so that they
may take appropriate action.
lantern A signal assembly of optical components (one or more aspects), together
with the means of connecting them to power supply and facilities for
mounting the complete assembly (see aspect).
lantern (traffic) The unit that houses traffic signal aspects facing in one direction.
large bus A bus having an occupant capacity, including the driver, of over 20
persons.
laser profilometer (laser A vehicle fitted with a laser-based measurement system that records the
profiler) shape of the pavement surface profile. When used to collect roughness
data, records the measured longitudinal road profile.
late start The phase interval used at the start of a phase for delaying the start of
some movements.
late start feature A feature of a traffic signal controller whereby a certain signal group is
commenced later than other signal groups on the same phase.
latent demand Quantity of demand that is suppressed through the unavailability of a
transport service.
lateral force The component of the tyre force vector in the ‘Y’ direction.
lateral friction The force which, when generated between the tyre and the road surface,
assists a vehicle to maintain a circular path.
lateritic gravel A surface or near-surface accumulation of hard nodular iron oxide
particles, often with aluminium hydroxide and kaolin clay, which has
formed as a result of rock weathering under warm, wet climatic
conditions.
latex A milky colloidal suspension of natural rubber, cis-polyisoprene, obtained
mainly from the rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) and which is unstable
and tends to crystallise during extension. Synthetic latex, composed of
trans-polymers or a mixture of cis- and trans-polymers, may be produced
by polymerisation of one or more monomers.
LATM (local area traffic see local area traffic management
management)
lay by An area usually on rural roads or highways where vehicles may draw out
of the through carriageway and park.
layer The portion of a pavement course placed and compacted as an entity.
layer equivalency The thickness of an unbound pavement layer which may be replaced by
a unit thickness of bound material.
LCD see liquid crystal display
LCS see lane control system
LCV see light commercial vehicle
leaching The removal of soluble material and colloids by percolating water.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
lead vehicle A vehicle used at the head of mobile works on two-way carriageways to
give advance warning of the works to traffic approaching from the
opposite direction and to enable the driver to alert following workers of
any impending danger.
leading right turn An arrow-controlled right turn movement that is started and terminated in
the phase that immediately precedes the phase in which the opposing
through movement runs.
lead-lag right turn phasing A phase sequence that commences with a fully-controlled leading right
turn from one approach, followed by a through phase, and terminates
with a lagging right turn from the opposing approach.
lean mix concrete Cement concrete that has a lower cement content than pavement
concrete, and consequently will attain a lower mechanical strength.
learner permit A car learner permit allows a person to drive a car under supervision of a
fully licensed driver. A motorcycle learner permit allows a person to ride a
motorcycle unsupervised but with restrictions on the type of bike they
may ride. In some jurisdictions speed limits are imposed on drivers
holding learner permits, depending on the issuing authority. In Australia
and New Zealand, learners are required to have zero BAC when driving.
LEDs see light emitting diodes
left traffic lane arrows Traffic lane arrows applying to a marked lane, which indicate only a
direction to the left.
left turn lane see turning lane

left-in/left-out island A partial road closure incorporating a raised triangular island at an
intersection approach that obstructs right turns, and through movements,
to and from the intersection, street or driveway.
left-right staggered junction A junction in which a driver turns left on entering the intersecting
carriageway and then right in order to continue the route. Note: The
preferred configuration is a right-left staggered junction.
leg Right of way that forms an approach and/or departure to an intersection.
The right of way may contain roadways, footways and bikeways.
legibility distance The maximum distance that the various types of traffic control signs or
devices are clearly seen under normal operating conditions, and where
there is no restriction to the line of sight.
levee (bund) An earth or rock embankment constructed to prevent flooding of low-lying
land. It is used to control the level or direction of flow of a watercourse at
a culvert or elsewhere.
level crossing see at-grade crossing
level of service (LOS) An index of the operational performance of traffic on a given traffic lane,
carriageway or road when accommodating various traffic volumes under
different combinations of operating conditions. It is usually defined in
terms of the convenience of travel and safety performance.
levelling course (regulation An asphalt course of varying thickness applied to a pavement surface to
course, correction course) adjust its shape preparatory to overlaying with another course or
applying a sprayed seal.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
life cycle cost The sum of the acquisition costs (planning, investigation, design and
construction) and the ownership costs (maintenance, rehabilitation,
operating expenses, and disposal) of an asset over its entire life.
light bus A bus having a gross vehicle mass (GVM) not exceeding 5 t.
light commercial vehicles Motor vehicles constructed for the carriage of goods and which are less
than or equal to 3.5 tonnes GVM. This includes utilities, panel vans, cab-
chassis and goods carrying vans (four-wheel drive or not).
light emitting diodes (LEDs) A semiconductor device that emits visible light when an electric current
passes through it. Advantages of LEDs compared with incandescent and
fluorescent illuminating devices, include low power requirement, high
efficiency and long life.
light traffic thoroughfare Specific signposted road that excludes the use of the road by certain
vehicles.
lightly-trafficked road A road carrying average annual daily traffic (AADT) of up to 1500
vehicles.
lightweight aggregate An aggregate composed of inorganic materials having a particle density
on a dry basis of less than 2.1 t/m3.
lightweight concrete A structural concrete, the density of which is reduced by using lightweight
aggregate such as expanded or foamed blast furnace slag, scoria or
shales, or by the entrainment of air.
lime mortar A mixture of cement or lime with sand and water.

lime stabilisation The controlled application of lime to improve the load carrying capacity of
a pavement layer (usually the basecourse) or of the subgrade.
limestone A metamorphic rock, composed of calcium carbonate (CaCO3)
sometimes used as filler or as an aggregate in pavements and concrete.
limit line see give-way line, stop line
limited access road NZ: A road declared under the Transit New Zealand Act, or created
under the Public Works Act, as a means of controlling access between
roads and properties (see also controlled access road).
line of sight The direct line of uninterrupted view between a driver and an object of
specified height above the carriageway in the lane of travel.
linear parking control A form of parking control where signage is used to delineate an individual
length of kerb, or in the centre of the road, by signposting one or more
parking zone, no stopping, no parking or clearway panels together.
linear shrinkage (LS) The percentage decrease in length of a soil sample in a mould when
dried under standard testing conditions from the liquid limit state.
linemarking Lines, painted or otherwise applied, that delineate lane boundaries and
guide traffic with respect to overtaking and the like.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
link 1. In a road network, portion of a road between two intersections. (Note:
Its basic characteristics are length, vehicle speeds, travel times and
number of lanes). 2. In a public transport network, portion of a route
between stations or bus or tram stops. (Note: Its basic characteristics
are length, the modes which use it, vehicle speeds, travel times and
frequencies). 3. In traffic assignment, a connection between two nodes.
4. A road section between junctions or interchanges. 5. A length of road
defined for strategic and reporting purposes, generally of the order of 100
km to 300 km, but can be longer in remote areas (e.g. Katherine to Alice
Springs (1,100 km) and Port Hedland to Broome (600 km)).
link class Type of link in a road network (e.g. freeways, arterial roads), which is
used to identify different modes in a transit network that is coded in a
road network format.
link count A link count is the number of vehicles passing an observation point along
a road link over a given period. The count may be bi-directional (i.e. a
two-way total), or may be split into separate counts for the two directions
of flow.
link load Volume of travel assigned to a link.
linked trip One-way movement from one place to another for a specific purpose,
involving more than one mode of travel.
linking see coordination
lip The edge of a gutter adjacent to the pavement.

liquid crystal display (LCD) A thin, flat display device made up of any number of color or
monochrome pixels arrayed in front of a light source.
lively The state of being workable as applied to premix patching materials.
load Pavement: 1. A single truckload of material comprising one or more
batches. 2. The force applied to the surface of a road or bridge.
Vehicle: 3. Anything that is normally removed from the vehicle when the
vehicle is not in use, but does not include: (a) tools, equipment or
substances necessary for the vehicle or combination to function, or for
any load to be restrained; or (b) personal items used by the driver.
load capacity The difference between the gross vehicle mass (GVM) and gross
combination mass (GCM) of the vehicle and its tare mass.
load carrying capacity The maximum load which a bridge may safely carry without suffering
significant permanent deterioration or distress.
load equivalency factors The ratio of the number of repetitions of a specified axle load (termed the
standard load) which the pavement can sustain to the number of
repetitions of another axle load which the same pavement can sustain for
given damage criteria.
load factor 1. Measure of the degree of utilisation of an approach to a signalised
intersection. 2. Measure of the degree of utilisation of a freight vehicle’s
capacity. 3. Ratio of the number of passengers to the total passenger
capacity of public transport vehicles.
loading 1. Process of determining the link loads by selecting routes of travel and
accumulating the trip volumes on each link that is traversed. 2. Trip
patronage for public transport vehicles.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
loading dock A specific area set aside for loading and unloading a commercial vehicle
often allowing the operation to be carried out from a raised platform.
loading island A traffic island provided for the use of pedestrians awaiting, boarding or
leaving a public transport vehicle (see traffic island).
load-sharing suspension An axle group suspension system that divides the load between the tyres
on the group so that no tyre carries a mass more than 10% greater than
the mass it would carry if the load were divided equally (it has effective
damping characteristics on all axles of the group).
local (traffic) precinct An area, sometimes a sub-area within a local traffic area, containing only
local streets, where specific local problems exist which can be treated
separately from other parts of the local traffic area.
local access path Minor path generally located in a local or residential area that links road
and/or other path cycling routes.
local area An area containing only local and collector roads, which is bounded by
arterial and sub-arterial roads or features such as rivers, railway lines, or
the limit of urban development.
local area traffic The use of physical devices, streetscaping treatments and other
management (LATM) measures (including regulations and other non-physical measures) to
influence vehicle operation, in order to create safer and more liveable
local streets. Note: The use of the acronym LATM as a noun to mean
device, common in some parts of Australia, is best avoided.
local by-passable traffic Term normally used to refer to short distance traffic that can be diverted,
usually at the expense of increased distance, not increased time.
local interlinking A signal coordination system comprising a small number of closely-
spaced signals, interconnected by a cable, usually with one of the signal
controllers assuming the role of master controller.
local road A road or street primarily used for access to abutting properties.
local street A street whose main function is to provide access to and from adjacent
land uses.
local traffic area A traffic analysis area usually bounded by arterial roads or other roads
serving a significant road transportation function, or other physical
barriers such as creeks, railways, reserves or impassable terrain.
local traffic precinct Area that will be used only by traffic that either starts or ends a trip within
a precinct.
location A single site (either an intersection or a point along a road), a route
(length of road), or an area covering a number of roads. In connection
with ‘mass action programs’ it also means a multitude of locations across
a road network which have a common hazardous feature.
location system A tool enabling asset data to be accurately identified with respect to the
physical asset over a long period of time. It generally comprises
permanent land marks and reference points, and a database.
lock-in coat (scatter coat) A light application of small size aggregate to temporarily ‘lock in’ a larger
size aggregate seal to reduce aggregate movement during rolling and
initial trafficking.
locking up A traffic phenomenon at intersections in which entering traffic blocks the
route of traffic exiting, and brings all movements to a standstill.
Austroads 2008
— 73 —
Term Definition
long term (traffic control) A traffic guidance scheme, which is required to operate during both day
and night, and which may be left unattended.
long term pavement The monitoring of the structural and/or functional performance of
performance studies sections of in-service pavement over a long period of time.
(LTPP)
longitudinal crack A crack or crack pattern in the pavement or bridge deck which runs
(longitudinal cracking) approximately parallel to the direction of traffic flow.
longitudinal force The component of the tyre force vector in the ‘X’ direction.
longitudinal friction The friction between vehicle tyres and the road pavement measured in
the longitudinal direction.
longitudinal friction factor The friction between vehicle tyres and the road pavement under locked
wheel braking conditions, measured in the longitudinal direction.
longitudinal joint A planned joint in the direction of traffic flow in base concrete which is
either formed or induced and across which, generally mid-slab are 1 m
long, 12 mm diameter tiebars at various centres, typically 0.5 to 0.75 m
centres. The joints are usually located near longitudinal edge and lane
lines, and are ‘held’ together by tiebars. Longitudinal joints are generally
avoided in bridge decks due to issues with cyclists and motorcyclists.
longitudinal profile The shape of a pavement surface measured as the vertical distance from
a datum horizontal plane along the direction of traffic flow.
longitudinal section A vertical section, usually with an exaggerated vertical scale, showing
the existing surface levels along a road or bridge centreline, or other
specified line. It commonly shows also the levels to which the road or
bridge is to be constructed or reconstructed.
LOS see level of service
Los Angeles (abrasion) A measure of the ability of an aggregate to withstand abrasion and
value impact in a dry environment.
lost time The amount of time in a cycle which is effectively lost to traffic movement
because of starting delays, the falling-off of the discharge rate which
occurs during the yellow period and any all-red periods.
lot A continuous portion of homogeneous and/or representative material, or
end product produced under essentially constant conditions usually
within one shift.
louvres An assembly of mechanical baffles mounted within the visor to reduce
sun-phantom (horizontal louvres) or to restrict the angular coverage of a
signal (vertical louvres).
low-alcohol hours see alcohol hours
low loader A gooseneck semi-trailer with a loading deck no more than 1 m above
the ground.
low speed off-tracking The maximum width of the swept path in a prescribed 90º low-speed
turn.
Lowry model Land-use model that divides employment into basic (export oriented) and
non-basic (population serving) types. Households and non-basic
employment are located relative to a distance function and land
availability constraint.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
luminance Luminance at a point of a surface and in a given direction is the luminous
intensity per unit projected area of a light emitting or reflecting surface.
luminous intensity Luminous Intensity in a given direction is the luminous flux emitted by a
light source in an infinitesimal cone containing the given direction divided
by the solid angle of that cone.
lute A hand tool for spreading and smoothing pavement materials. It consists
of a straight edge transversely mounted on a long handle.
M
macadam (waterbound A layer of coarse single sized aggregate of about 50 mm, first
macadam) interlocked by rolling and then bound with smaller stone, gravel, etc.,
which is forced into the interstices by brooming, watering and rolling.
macrotexture The deviations of the surface profile of the pavement from a true planar
surface with the characteristic dimensions of wavelength and amplitude
from 0.5 mm up to those that no longer affect tyre-pavement interaction
(≈ 50 mm).
main mode of travel Journeys involving more than one transport mode: the mode of travel
used for the longest distance or, in the case of equal distances, the mode
of travel used for the greatest time.
maintenance (routine All actions necessary for retaining an asset as near as practicable to its
maintenance, periodic original condition, or to reduce its rate of deterioration.
maintenance)
maintenance intervention The value of a condition parameter which triggers maintenance
level (intervention level) investigation or activity.
maintenance management A systematic approach to maintenance planning, budgeting and work,
system usually supported by software to assist in organising and analysing data
on pavement and surface inventory and condition as well as on
maintenance activities (e.g. type, costs, productivity, location, history).
maintenance plan A budgeting tool consisting of a list of costed activities scheduled over a
period of 3 to 5 years, reviewed annually, with year 1 activities funded,
and aimed at maintaining the asset within specified maintenance
standards.
major road A road to which is assigned a permanent priority for traffic movement
over that of other roads.
major service area A service area regularly serviced by heavy rigid or articulated vehicles or
both and having more than one service bay.
major/minor road system System for control of a road network in which the priority at intersections
or junctions is determined by the relative importance of the approach
roads.
maltenes The constituents of bitumen soluble in carbon tetrachloride, carbon
disulphide and in aromatic-free low-boiling point petroleum spirit. The
maltene fraction of a bitumen generally comprises resins and oils.
management segment A length of road pavement that is relatively uniform in treatment history,
current condition, terrain, and traffic usage, with length generally
between 0.5 km and 1.75 km (or up to 5 km in remote areas).
manhole A shaft or container which provides access to a sewer, drain or other
underground service.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
manoeuvre Any action on the part of a driver with regard to merging, weaving or
overtaking.
manoeuvre area The area in which merging, weaving, or overtaking movements occur.
manoeuvring area The area between the access driveway or circulation roadway and the
parking or service bays in which vehicles manoeuvre.
manual count The collection of traffic survey data by observers at a site.
manual survey see manual count
marginal aggregate An aggregate which does not meet conventional aggregate specifications
but is suitable for specific use in pavements.
marginal friction 1. The retarding effect on the free flow of traffic caused by interference of
any sort at either edge of a carriageway or traffic lane, other than at an
intersection. 2. Friction force acting on a vehicle during cornering.
marked foot crossing A transverse strip of carriageway marked for the use of pedestrians
crossing the road (mid-block or at an intersection) controlled by vehicular
and pedestrian signals.
marked lane An area of a road marked by continuous or broken lines, or rows of studs
or markers, on the road surface, which is designed for use by a single
line of vehicles.
marker post A post placed at the edge of the trafficable road, equipped with a
reflector to assist night driving.
markings Any lines painted on the road to control traffic movement or parking.
Marshall test A method used for the design and production control of asphalt mixes
which ensures adequate stability, voids and durability.
mass action program Applying a particular, well tried remedy to address a hazardous feature,
at all locations where the feature is present irrespective of whether
accidents have occurred.
mass diagram A curve plotted on a distance base, the ordinate at any point of which
represents the algebraic sum up to that point of the volume of cut and fill
from the start of the earthworks or from any arbitrary point.
mass haul diagram A graph on a base of distance showing cross-sectional area of cutting
and fill on which the destination of the material from each cutting is
indicated. It is often reduced to a diagram showing rectangles having
areas proportional to cut or fill volumes.
mast-arm post An extended post used for mounting and displaying traffic signal lanterns
above the carriageway.
master controller A traffic signal controller controlling a system of secondary controllers.
masterlink The fully-adaptive mode of operation of the SCATS control system.
mastic An intimate mixture of fine mineral matter and bitumen in such
proportions as to form a coherent, voidless, impermeable mass, which is
spread hot by means of a float. It is used for filling joints, waterproofing
concrete slabs, etc.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
MATerials Testing Used to test stiffness modulus, fatigue life and creep, and enables testing
Apparatus (MATTA) of a range of materials from unbound to the stiffest asphalts and some
cement-based materials. The MATTA is an affordable system for routine
testing but with the versatility to carry out detailed research
investigations. The MATTA is the preferred testing machine for a number
of Australian Standard test methods.
matrix A mixture of binding material and fine aggregate in which large
aggregate is embedded or held in place.
MATTA see MATerials Testing Apparatus
maximum change The termination of a green aspect in a traffic-actuated signal controller,
which occurs upon the expiration of the maximum running period.
maximum deflection (D0) The measured maximum vertical movement of the pavement under load.
maximum density (void free The maximum density that could be achieved in a sample of asphalt if it
density) were possible to compact it so as to exclude all air voids between coated
aggregate particles.
maximum dry density The dry density of soil obtained by a specified amount of compaction at
(MDD) the optimum moisture content.
maximum running period The maximum time for which a traffic-actuated signal controller can
display a green aspect for a particular signal group under conditions of
continued demand for that signal group. (‘maximum green’ in Victoria).
maximum vehicle speed Maximum speed attainable without exceeding the engine manufacturer’s
rated speed established by calculation or on the basis of a test under
maximum vehicle acceleration from a standing start for 1.6 km at the
relevant normal loaded vehicle mass.
mean profile depth A mean measure of macrotexture, where the pavement surface profile is
divided into small segments of a given base length, typically 100 mm,
which are analysed and the mean segment depths averaged to give an
average value for a specific length of profile.
mean queue length The average number of vehicles waiting at the stop line at the
commencement of a phase.
mean texture depth (sand The average texture depth of the surface of a road expressed as the
patch) quotient of a given volume of standardised material and the area of that
material spread in a circular patch on the surface being tested.
mean time between failures The mean time between failures of a system. Calculations of MTBF
(a signal maintenance term) assume that a system is ‘renewed’, i.e. fixed, after each failure, and then
(MTBF) returned to service immediately after failure.
mean time to detect The mean time between failure and detection that a failure has occurred.
(MTTD)
mean time to repair (a The total corrective maintenance time divided by the total number of
signal maintenance term) corrective maintenance actions during a given period of time.
(MTTR)
measure A general term which covers regulation and other non-physical actions,
as well as devices and other physical actions, to manage traffic at the
local level.
measurement repeatability An indication of variation in measures about the mean.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
mechanistic analysis A design procedure based on stress analysis and fundamental material
behaviour in pavements.
medial friction The retarding effect on the free flow of traffic caused by interference
between traffic proceeding in opposite directions on a carriageway.
median A strip of road, not normally intended for use by traffic, which separates
carriageways for traffic in opposite directions. Usually formed by painted
lines, kerbed and paved areas, grassed areas, etc.
median barrier see traffic median barrier
median island A short length of median serving a localised purpose in an otherwise
undivided road.
median lane 1. The traffic lane nearest the median. 2. A speed change lane within the
median to accommodate right turning vehicles.
median opening A gap in a median provided for crossing and turning traffic.
median strip A dividing strip designed or developed to separate vehicles travelling in
opposite directions.
median strip parking area A parking area on or in a median strip.
megatexture Surface irregularities with wave lengths between 50 mm and 500 mm,
related to small defects in the surfacing, such as rutting, potholes,
patching, stone loss (stripping), ravelling, major joints and major cracks.
melting point The temperature at which a substance liquefies.

merging The converging of separate streams of traffic into a single stream.
mesh reinforcement Factory made mesh sheets or rolls of plain hard-drawn steel wire,
consisting of longitudinal wires with cross wires welded to them, for use
as reinforcement for concrete. Grading of material is designated in
millimetres for sizes 1 mm and above, and in micrometres for sizes less
than 1 mm.
metered access A system of allowing vehicles to enter a highway or road only when a
control mechanism allows it. The mechanism can, therefore, control
traffic by allowing vehicles to enter only when traffic permits (see access
control).
microsurfacing A bituminous slurry surfacing, usually containing polymer, which is
capable of being spread in variably thick layers for rut-filling and
correction courses, and for wearing course applications where good
surface texture is required to be maintained throughout the service life.
microtexture Surface irregularities with wave lengths less than 0.5 mm, associated
with asperities on the surface of individual pieces of aggregate which
make up the road surface.
mid-block capacity The capacity of a road between intersections.
mid-block medians A flush or raised island placed along the centreline of the road that
narrows the carriageway and can provide pedestrians with a safe place
to take refuge.
milling Removing the surface of a pavement (typically 25 to 75 mm in depth)
with a machine equipped with a transverse rotating cutter drum.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
mineral aggregate Materials composed of discrete mineral particles (chips) of specified size
(aggregate) or size distribution. They are produced from sand, gravel, rock,
metallurgical slag or artificial stone, using one or more of the following
processes: selective extraction, screening, blasting, and crushing.
mineral filler (filler) A fine material, the majority of which passes a 0.075 mm sieve, derived
from aggregate or other similar granular material and commonly used in
slurry sealing and asphalt.
minibus see small bus
minimum change The termination of a green aspect in a traffic signal controller, which
occurs upon the expiration of the initial running period.
minimum gap sight distance The sight distance acceptable to a driver to enter or cross a conflicting
(MGSD) traffic stream.
minimum path That route of travel between two points which has the least accumulation
of impedance.
minimum running period see initial running period
minimum turning path The path of a designated point on a vehicle making its sharpest turn.
minimum turning radius The radius of the minimum turning path of the outside of the outer front
tyre of a vehicle.
minor service area (heavy A service area occasionally served by heavy rigid vehicles or with
vehicles) provision for not more than a total of ten medium rigid and smaller
commercial vehicles.
misfeasance The wrongful performance of a normally lawful act or the wrongful and
injurious exercise of a lawful authority.
mix The proportions of ingredients in a quantity of concrete or mortar or
asphalt.
mix design The designed portion of component materials comprising the slurry.
mixing plant The equipment used to manufacture asphalt, concrete, basecourse
materials, etc.
mixing time – dry The time during which all the aggregates and filler are being mixed
together in the pugmill of a batch mixing plant without the binder.
mixing time – total The sum of dry and wet mixing times.
mixing time – wet The time during which the binder is mixing with the aggregate in the
pugmill of a batch plant.
mobile work Work that entails vehicles moving progressively along the roadway at
speeds significantly lower than other traffic, with all signs and devices
being either vehicle mounted or regularly moved along the road.
mobility management European term for travel demand management.
modal choice Choice on the use of different forms of transport related to individual,
business or household characteristics and the travel parameters of the
competing modes.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
modal choice model Mathematical model used to allocate trips between zones to each of the
reasonable modes of transport available, which is normally applied on
the basis of the relationship between disutilities for each mode and the
socio-economic characteristics of the likely users.
modal interchange A transport node of a major nature, which has a facility where people can
readily change from one mode of transport to another (see interchanging
and public transport nodes).
modal split Describes the percentage of people or goods on different forms of
transport e.g. the percentage of people using private cars as opposed to
public transport.
mode Method of transport e.g. motor vehicle travel (as driver or passenger),
bus, light rail and walking.
model Mathematical description of a situation that uses data on past and
present conditions to make predictions about the effects of changes.
modification The improvement of the properties of a material by the addition of small
quantities of an additive by the stabilisation process.
modified asphalt An asphalt in which the binder has been modified by the incorporation of
polymers, resins, rubber or other material to achieve specific physical
properties.
modified binder Binder with enhanced performance achieved by the incorporation of
additives (polymers, resins, rubber or other material) or special
processing to achieve specific physical properties.

modified compaction Compaction using a 4.9 kg rammer falling a height of 450 mm and
compacted over five layers.
modified material Granular materials to which small amounts of stabilising agent have been
added to improve their performance (e.g. by reducing plasticity) without
causing a significant increase in structural stiffness.
Modified Structural Number A pavement strength parameter, being a refinement of the AASHO Road
(SNC) Test estimation of pavement strength (Structural Number), which directly
takes into account the subgrade contribution to pavement strength. The
Modified Structural Number (SNC) is equal to the Structural Number
(SN) that would be required if the pavement were to be designed to carry
the same traffic on a subgrade with a CBR value of 3%.
modified T intersection A three-way intersection treatment using raised medians, signage and
other delineation to modify the priority and to slow and physically direct
traffic through an intersection.
modulus The ratio of the applied stress and the resulting strain. See flexural
modulus, resilient modulus and Young’s modulus
moisture content (water The quantity of water which can be removed from a material by heating
content) to 105oC until no further significant change in mass occurs; usually
expressed as a percentage of the dry mass.
molecular structure Physical form that the polymer chains take up relative to each other.
mortar 1. A mixture of cement and/or lime and sand with water. 2. A mixture of
fine aggregate with an epoxy compound or other binder.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
motorway A divided highway for through traffic with no access for traffic between
interchanges and with grade separation at some interchanges. Certain
activities or uses may be restricted or prohibited by legislative provision.
mountable kerb A kerb designed to define the edge of a carriageway but which may be
mounted or driven across, if the need arises, with little to no risk of
damage to a vehicle.
movement A stream of vehicles that enters from the same approach and departs
from the same exit (i.e. with the same origin and destination).
movement diagrams A set of diagrams depicting movements of traffic and/or pedestrians
permitted in each phase of the traffic signal cycle.
MTBF see mean time between failures
MTTD see mean time to detect
MTTR see mean time to repair
mudjacking A process which improves the support of a concrete slab by pumping in
cement, mud or bitumen.
mulching The application of plant residues or other suitable material to the land
surface to conserve moisture, hold the soil in place, aid in establishing
plant cover, increase infiltration and minimise temperature fluctuations.
multi-combination vehicle A vehicle consisting of all articulated combinations of vehicles exceeding
19 m in length or 42.5 tonne gross mass, including B-doubles, road trains
and truck-trailer combinations.

multigrade bitumen A bituminous binder which, at high service temperatures shows good
resistance to flow, and at low temperatures does not exhibit the high
stiffness (leading to brittleness) normally experienced with conventional
bitumen binders.
multilane Two or more running lanes in one direction.
multilane road For a driver, means a one-way road, or a two-way road, with two or more
marked lanes (except bicycle lanes) that are 1. on the side of the
dividing line or median strip where the driver is driving, and 2. for the use
of vehicles travelling in the same direction.
multilane roundabout A roundabout with one or more entry and/or exit carriageways and part
or all of the circulating carriageways designed for or operated as two or
more lanes or lines of traffic.
multi-laser profilometer A vehicle fitted with a laser-based measurement system consisting of
(multi-laser profiler) multiple lasers that measure and record the transverse road profile.
multileg intersection An intersection having five or more legs.
multilevel interchange An interchange in which there are mutually crossing carriageways at
three or more different levels.
multimodal Combination of two or more modes of travel in a single journey.
multipath assignment Any assignment process in which a trip can be proportioned to more than
one path.
multiple combination The full range of truck, prime mover and semi-trailers and road trains.
vehicles
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
multiple countermeasures Package of road safety countermeasures implemented when a single
countermeasure will not suffice.
multi-tyred roller A heavy roller having multiple tyres on two axles, used to compact
pavement layers including surfacings.
multiway intersection see multileg intersection
N
NAASRA Roughness Meter A standard mechanical device used for measuring road roughness by
recording the upward movement of the rear axle of a standard station
wagon relative to the vehicle’s body as the vehicle travels at a standard
speed along the road being tested. A cumulative upward vertical
movement of 15.2 mm corresponds to one NAASRA Roughness Count.
national highway A road which is a major link between adjacent capital cities.
natural asphalt A naturally-occurring mixture in which bitumen is associated with inert
mineral matter, e.g. Trinidad Lake asphalt.
nature strip An area between a road (except a road-related area) and adjacent land,
but does not include a bicycle path, footpath, or shared path.
near side The left side (passenger side) of a vehicle moving forward (nearest the
kerb).
negotiation speed The speed of travel of a vehicle through a roundabout measured from a
point on an entry carriageway equal to the stopping distance in advance
of the holding line to a point where the vehicle exits from the circulating
carriageway.
neighbourhood Portion of a suburb or other urban area, defined by geographical
boundaries (natural and man-made) and having common community
services. A neighbourhood may contain one or more precincts (see
pedestrian precinct).
net contact area The area enclosing the pattern of the tyre tread in contact with a flat
surface, excluding the area of grooves or other depressions.
net present value (NPV) The present value of a future benefit less the present value of future
costs.
network 1. Set of roads which provide a means of road based travel within a
region. In transport terms it is defined in terms of links and nodes. 2. A
schematic mathematical model of a road or public transport system
which contains a link-by-link description of the routes covered by the
public transport system and the speed and capacities of road links.
network description Computer record that describes the transport system in terms of time,
distance and link and node attributes.
network level A type of road condition survey or data analysis where the main purpose
is to monitor network performance or assist with network asset
management decisions, as distinct from project decisions.
ninety-fifth percentile queue Queue length expected to be exceeded in 5% of signal cycles only, used
length for designing adequate queue storage length.
no overtaking line NZ: A continuous yellow painted line adjacent to the road centreline
marking, which indicates that overtaking is not permitted.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
no parking A requirement similar to no stopping except that vehicles are permitted to
stop or remain stationary for short periods of time for the purpose of
taking up or setting down passengers and/or goods.
no stopping A requirement whereby vehicles are not permitted to stop or remain
stationary except in an emergency or when necessary to avoid conflict
with other traffic or to comply with the directions of a member of the
police force or a traffic control sign or signal as prescribed by relevant
legislation. Certain vehicles may be exempted from such restrictions.
no-build alternative Planning option of not building a proposed transport project such as a
new road, but improving the already existing transportation system. The
no-build alternative could include widening an existing road or increasing
public transport services.
node Intersection points of links within a road network.
no-exit road A street or road open at one end only.
nominal size A size designation of an aggregate which gives an indication of the
largest particle size present.
non-cohesive soil A soil on which the fine fraction is lacking, resulting in a loss of the
cohesive bonds associated with this fraction.
non-current asset An asset which has a useful life extending over more than one
accounting period (road infrastructure is invariably a non-current asset).
non-directional detector A detector capable of being actuated by vehicles proceeding in either

direction.
nonfeasance The omission of some act which ought to have been performed.
non-home based trip Trip that does not start or finish at home.
non-ionic bitumen emulsion A type of bitumen emulsion in which the suspended bitumen particles
have no electrical charge.
non-structural overlay A pavement overlay which is not considered to contribute to the
structural performance of the pavement but only the functional
performance.
non-structural shoulder A shoulder that is not considered to reduce stresses in the structural
(concrete) pavement sufficient to decrease the base thickness.
non-user benefits see indirect benefits
non-woven fabric A fabric obtained by mechanical and/or chemical and/or thermal binding
of fibres arranged in layers excluding knitting and weaving.
normal cross-section The cross section of the carriageway where it is not affected by
superelevation or widening.
novice driver New driver, typically holding a learner permit or probationary/provisional
licence.
nth highest hour The hourly traffic volume that is exceeded during (N - 1) hours in the
course of a year.
nth highest hourly volume This is denoted as n HV and is the nth highest volume in a year. 30 HV is
the 30th highest hourly volume in the year and is often used as a
representative traffic volume for road design, especially rural roads.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
nuclear density meter An instrument for the non-destructive determination of the density and
(NDM) (nuclear meter) moisture content of a material using a radioactive source for its
operation.
number plate survey Survey involving the recording of vehicle licence plate numbers at
different locations for the purpose of developing origin-destination data.
O
obstruction markings Patterns and devices used to emphasise the presence of physical
obstructions, in or near the carriageway, that constitute hazards to traffic.
OBU see on-board unit
occasional service Service by a nominated design vehicle less than once per day.
occupancy Proportion of the time that a designated point in a traffic lane is covered
by vehicles.
occupancy time The time that starts when the front of a vehicle enters the detection zone
and finishes when the back of the vehicle exits the detection zone. Thus,
it is the duration of the period when the detection zone is occupied by a
vehicle.
OCR see optical character recognition
OD matrix see origin/destination matrix
OEM see original equipment manufacturers

offence Illegal act.
off ramp A carriageway to allow vehicles to leave a freeway, motorway or
expressway.
off side The right side of a vehicle moving forward.
off-centre operation see tidal flow
offlet drain A V-drain constructed at an angle to the road to convey water from the
table drain away from the road.
off-peak hour A representative hourly flow indicative of the average flow outside the
peak period.
off-peak period The periods that have low demand volumes of traffic during the day (see
peak period).
offset 1. Horizontal distance measured at right angles to a datum or reference
line. 2. In a traffic signal system, the difference in time between the
same phasing point (usually the start of the green) in the operation of
adjacent signals.
offsets The difference between the start or end times of green periods at
adjacent (upstream and downstream) signals.
offside The side of a vehicle furthest away from the kerb when the vehicle is
travelling in the normal direction of travel. It corresponds to the driver's
side of the vehicle. The offside of a road corresponds to the right-hand
of the carriageway when looking in the direction of travel.
off-tracking The lateral distance that the last axle on the rear trailer tracks outside the
path of the steer axle, usually used for low-speed movements.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
on-board survey see in-vehicle survey
on-board unit A collection of electronic equipment within a vehicle that assembles GPS
and vehicle sensor data and transmits it via a wireless communications
link to roadside infrastructure, other processing sites, and other vehicles.
on-ramp A carriageway to allow vehicles to join a freeway, expressway or
motorway.
on-road public transport Includes on-road public transport such as buses, trams, taxis.
(ORPT)
one-way road A road or street on which all vehicular traffic travels in the same direction.
one-way traffic Vehicular traffic, the movement of which is restricted to one direction.
open sub-soil drain An open drain provided for the collection and removal of sub-soil water
rather than surface water.
open-graded asphalt A bituminous mix using aggregate containing only small amounts of fine
material, and providing a high percentage of air voids.
operating speed The 85th percentile speed of cars at a time when traffic volumes are low
and which allows a free choice of speed within the road alignment. NZ:
The highest overall speed, exclusive of stops, at which a driver can
safely travel on a given section of road under the prevailing traffic
conditions.
operational delay The delay caused by interference between components of traffic.
operator A person, or company, who controls or directs the operations of a

vehicle, or who is otherwise responsible for it.
opposed turn see filter turn
opposing movement 1. A movement that conflicts with, and has priority over, another
(opposed) movement. 2. A movement which approaches from the
opposite direction as another on the same road regardless of destination.
opposing right turns Right turning movements in opposite directions, which take place during
the same signal phase.
opposing traffic The traffic stream travelling in the opposite direction to the vehicle or
vehicles under consideration.
opposing traffic stream see opposing movement
optical character A technique that optically captures the characters (e.g. on a number
recognition (OCR) plate) for vehicle identification and other applications.
optimum cycle time The calculated fixed-time signal cycle length for a given set of approach
volumes and turning movements at an intersection for which a chosen
performance index (delay, number of stops, queue length, etc.) is
minimised.
optimum moisture content That moisture content of a soil at which a specified amount of
(OMC) compaction will produce the maximum dry density under specified test
conditions.
optimum phasing The phasing arrangement of traffic signals, which achieves the best
capacity at a signalised intersection.
optimum speed The average speed at which traffic must move to attain the maximum
traffic volume on a carriageway.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
origin Point or area in which a trip starts.
original equipment Those companies that are the original manufacturers of vehicles and
manufacturers (OEM) equipment.
origin-destination (OD) Tabulation containing all the trips being made in a network over a given
matrix time interval. The number of trips between a specified origin-destination
pair is one cell (element) of an O-D matrix.
origin-destination survey The measurement and study of an aspect of traffic movement.
ORPT see on-road public transport
orthotropic A material having different stiffness properties in two or more directions
at right angles to each other, e.g. wood.
outer separator A dividing strip separating a through carriageway from a service road or
frontage road.
outreach (of a mast-arm) The horizontal distance from the centreline of the vertical member to the
centreline of the overhead lantern assembly.
overall time Time taken to travel between two specified points on a route, including
the time of all stops.
overall travel speed The total distance traversed by a vehicle divided by the total time
required including all traffic delays.
overall travel time see journey time
overall width Maximum distance measured across the body, including wheel guards,
but excluding equipment and hardware such as rear vision mirrors,
signalling devices and side-mounted lamps.
overburden The soil or other mineral matter which has to be removed to gain access
to the underlying material.
over-dimensional vehicle A vehicle precluded by legislation from using public roads – due to its
mass or dimensions – without following a prescribed route or obtaining a
special permit from the relevant traffic authority.
over-dimension route Route available for use by over-dimensional vehicles.
overflow queue The number of vehicles left in a queue at the expiry of green time for that
queue (see residual queue).
overhang (of mast-arm) The horizontal distance from the kerb alignment to the centreline of the
overhead lantern assembly.
overhead lane control An overhead lane control sign or signal.
device
overhead lane control sign A traffic sign displaying a red diagonal cross that is installed on a
structure over a road or part of a road.
overhead lane control 1. An illuminated red diagonal cross (whether or not flashing). 2. An
signal illuminated white, green or yellow arrow pointing downwards or indicating
one or more directions. 3. A device on a structure over a road, or part of
a road, designed to display an overhead lane control signal, or two or
more overhead lane control signals.
overhead signal face The signal face mounted above the roadway.
overlap movement A movement that runs in consecutive phases without stopping during the
associated inter-green period(s) (see overlapping signal group).
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
overlapping signal group A signal group that displays green in consecutive phases and during the
associated phase transition(s) (see overlap movement).
overlay The addition of one or more courses of pavement material to an existing
road surface, generally to increase strength/stiffness and/or improve
riding quality.
overpass A grade separation where the subject carriageway passes over an
intersecting carriageway or railway (see grade separation and
underpass).
overtaking The manoeuvre in which a vehicle moves from a position behind to a
position in front of another vehicle travelling in the same direction.
overtaking bay A short widening of the carriageway provided to allow very slow vehicles
to pull aside and be overtaken, usually in very steep terrain.
overtaking distance The distance required for one vehicle to overtake another vehicle.
overtaking lane An auxiliary lane provided for slower vehicles to allow them to be
overtaken (see climbing land and passing lane).
overtaking zone A section of road on which at least 70% of drivers will be prepared to
carry out overtaking manoeuvres subject to availability of adequate gaps
in the opposing direction.
oververtical curve see summit curve
oxidised binder A binder which has become hard and brittle as the result of chemical
attack by oxygen in the presence of heat and sunlight.
P
pace The 20 km/h speed range containing the largest percentage of vehicles
in a sample of spot speeds.
padfoot roller A roller used in road construction which has pad-like protrusions from the
steel drum. Used to compact fill and subgrade layers.
painted island An area of a road, surrounded by a line or lines (whether broken or
continuous), on which there are stripes marked on the road surface in
white or another colour contrasting with the colour of the road.
parallel flow Travel in the same direction as the normal flow of traffic e.g. a parallel
flow bus lane would run in the same direction as other vehicular traffic.
parallel pedestrian A signalised pedestrian movement that runs at the same time as the
movement parallel vehicle movement(s) that are controlled by circular green
displays.
para-transit Describes those forms of public transport that are different from
conventional bus and rail transit, and that can operate over the road
system, including demand responsive transport services, vehicle rental
and shared-ride taxi.
park-and-ride System in which people drive to a specified location, park there, and
board public transport for a defined destination (see kiss and ride).
park-and-ride ticket Combined vehicle parking and public transport ticket.
parking The act of stopping a vehicle and leaving it in the one location for a
period of time, whether of not anyone remains in the vehicle.
parking area A place set aside for the parking of vehicles.
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Term Definition
parking bay A recess or marked pavement area set back from the general flow of
traffic that can accommodate one parked vehicle. Also commonly
referred to as parking space.
parking capacity Total number of parking spaces provided within a parking facility, also
known as ‘static capacity’.
parking control area A network of one or more streets or an area in which uniform parking
controls apply, and which are defined by signs at the boundaries advising
road users of the parking control requirements. Also commonly referred
to as a traffic area.
parking lane An auxiliary lane primarily for the parking of vehicles.
parking lines Guide lines that indicate the limits within which vehicles should be
parked.
parking meter A device for registering and collecting payment for a length of time during
which a vehicle may be parked.
parking module A parking aisle together with a single row of parking bays on one or both
sides but excluding any ramps or circulation aisles.
parking space The area of pavement required to park one vehicle. Used
interchangeably with parking bay where the space is set back from the
general flow of traffic.
parking zone A length of roadway available for parking, full-time or part-time, and
designated by means of parking control signs.

partial barrier fence A fence provided to reduce the likelihood of access to a slope or fall
which due to the height of the fall, the existence of obstacles or grade of
the batter, could result in injury.
partial control Control of a turning movement by a green arrow display in one phase (as
an unopposed movement) and by a green circle display in another phase
(as a filter, or opposed movement).
particle density Mass of a dry particle of aggregate in air divided by volume of particle of
aggregate excluding permeable voids.
particle size distribution The quantities of the various particle sizes present in a mineral
grading (aggregate) aggregate; expressed as a percentage by mass of the whole.
partly crushed aggregate An aggregate particle containing a mixture of rounded and crushed
faces.
pass (roller) In rolling, the passage of all axles of a roller over a point.
passage detector A detector which produces a short output (pulse) of relatively constant
duration, independent of the mass or type of a moving vehicle within the
detection zone.
passage period The time allowed for a vehicle to travel at a selected speed from the
detector to the nearest point of conflicting traffic.
passenger car For the purpose of general traffic engineering requirements, this term
includes sedans, taxi cabs, station wagons, but excludes motor cycles
and light commercial vehicles such as utilities and panel vans (unless
otherwise specified).
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Term Definition
passenger car derivative Motor vehicle such as a coupe utility or panel van of the same model as
a passenger car in which the forward part of the body and most of the
mechanical equipment are the same as the passenger car equivalent.
passenger car unit Measure involving the conversion of different types of vehicles into their
equivalent passenger cars in terms of operating characteristics.
passenger kilometres Performance indicator in which the number of passengers carried is
multiplied by the number of kilometres travelled (see seat kilometres).
passenger restriction Limit on the number of passengers that a person may carry in or on a
vehicle.
passenger service Any bus service, harbour ferry service, passenger rail service, cable car,
hovercraft, monorail, tramway, or other form of public transport (other
than air transport) that is available to the public generally.
passing The manoeuvre by which a vehicle moves from a position behind to in
front of another vehicle, which is stationary or travelling at crawl speeds.
passing bay A short widening of the carriageway provided to allow very slow vehicles
to pull aside and be overtaken, usually in very steep terrain.
passing lane A lane provided for the purpose of overtaking, passing or bypassing
other vehicles.
passing place A widened length of a narrow carriageway at which vehicles can pass
each other. (See climbing lane, overtaking lane)
past (traffic control) A work area with traffic on a detour, side track or different carriageway.
patching The filling up or repair of depressions, holes, or other defective places in
a carriageway to restore the surface.
path Series of links defining the connection between zones in a network. Note:
In public transport networks, the path with the minimum impedance
(minimum distance, travel time or travel cost, either actual or perceived)
is found by path building programs.
path terminal A device or treatment generally used adjacent to the intersection of paths
and roads primarily to limit the possibility of path cyclists from entering a
road unknowingly or at speed, or alternatively to prevent access by
unauthorised vehicles.
pathway see footpath
pattern station A site at which a traffic count has been continued for a long enough time
to establish a pattern of variations and seasonal fluctuations in traffic
flow.
pavement That portion of a road designed for the support of, and to form the
running surface for, vehicular traffic.
pavement (pavement The portion of the road, excluding shoulders, placed above the design
structure) subgrade level for the support of, and to form a running surface for,
vehicular traffic.
pavement deflection The vertical elastic (recoverable) deformation of a pavement surface due
to the application of a load.
pavement design A process to select the most economic pavement thickness and
composition which will provide a satisfactory level of service for the
anticipated traffic and environmental loading.
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Term Definition
pavement distress The deterioration of the pavement evidenced by visible surface defects.
pavement edge line See edge line
pavement layer A portion of the pavement placed and compacted as an entity.
pavement management A systematic method of information collection and decision making,
system (PMS) necessary to permit the optimisation of the use of resources for the
maintenance and rehabilitation of pavements.
pavement marker A discrete retroreflective device, bonded to the pavement, which is of
sufficiently small size as to be effectively a point source of light when
viewed by vehicle drivers at normal night-time viewing distances; a non-
retroreflective pavement marker is applicable for daytime.
pavement markings Any markings, raised pavement markers, traffic domes and the like
placed on the road to control traffic movement or parking.
pavement rating A method of systematically describing the condition of a pavement
usually by visual inspection.
pavement reflector A retroreflective device attached to the surface of the road pavement
(see retroreflective marker).
pavement rutting (rutting) A pavement defect that is a characteristic of the transverse profile of a
pavement which takes the form of a longitudinal depression, usually
occurring in one or both wheelpaths.
pavement stiffness The resistance to deflection of the pavement structure.
pavement strength The ability of a pavement structure to resist the traffic vehicle wheel
loads that are applied to it. Pavement strength is often seen as
synonymous with structural capacity.
pavement width The width between the outer shoulder edges or between the kerb faces.
paver see paving machine
paving block A block of material cut to regular shape and size for laying as a
pavement (ceramic block, concrete interlocking block or wood block).
paving machine A self propelled machine used to lay material on a pavement to close
longitudinal and transverse level tolerances. The paver screed gives
initial compaction of the material by means of vibration, vertical tamping
or a combination of both. It may be used to lay asphalt, granular
materials or concrete.
paving unit (slurry A purpose-built continuous flow mixing unit capable of accurately
surfacing) metering each individual component material into a mixer which
thoroughly blends these materials to form a homogeneous bituminous
slurry and transfers the slurry into a spreader box for application to the
pavement surface.
PBS see Performance Based Standards
peak hour The hour of the day having the highest traffic volume and/or number of
passengers during the peak period.
peak hour factor Typically defined as the ratio of hourly volume to the maximum 15
minutes rate of flow expanded to an hourly volume.
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Term Definition
peak hour volume The maximum traffic count observed in any 60 minute interval during a
day. In rural areas it is usually sufficient to quote a single peak hour
volume. In urban areas two peak hour volumes are often considered:
one for the morning and one for the evening. This practice is adopted
because of the likelihood of significant differences in the directional flows
on urban roads at different times of day.
peak period The period that has the highest demand volume of traffic and/or number
of passengers during the day (peak hour, peak half hour, etc.) (see off-
peak period).
peak traffic flow The traffic volume during a time period of specified length during which
such volume is at its maximum.
pedestrian A person walking, and including people in wheelchairs, on roller skates
or riding vehicles such as skate boards or other vehicles, other than a
bicycle, powered by effort or a motor and with a maximum speed of 7
km/h.
pedestrian actuated control see traffic-actuated control
pedestrian actuated traffic A signal in which some changes of aspect are initiated by pedestrians.
signal
pedestrian aspects Signal aspects for pedestrians, consisting of the Walk aspect (a green
walking human figure) and the Don’t Walk aspect (red standing human
figure) (see pedestrian signal face).
pedestrian clearance period The flashing Don't Walk period that immediately follows the termination
of the pedestrian Walk display to enable pedestrians, who have just
stepped off the kerb at the commencement of this period, to complete
their crossing to the nearest kerb or refuge. Pedestrian clearance time is
the duration of the pedestrian clearance period.
pedestrian crossing A specially marked area giving legal rights to pedestrians crossing the
road (see zebra crossing, pelican crossing, puffin crossing).
pedestrian green time The duration of the green Walk display.
pedestrian indicator An indicator mounted on the pedestrian push button assembly that is
illuminated to acknowledge when a demand has been recorded.
pedestrian interval An interval during which pedestrians are given right-of-way, but during
which the movement of vehicles, even in the directions conflicting with
the path of pedestrians, is not necessarily prohibited.
pedestrian island An island in a carriageway set aside for the exclusive use of pedestrians.
pedestrian mall A length of road within a commercial area, used solely for pedestrians
and authorised vehicles.
pedestrian phase A phase allocated to pedestrian traffic that is running simultaneously with
the traffic phase.
pedestrian precinct An area (may include an entire road or any part thereof) dominated by
pedestrian traffic with exclusion of some or all motor vehicles during part
of the day or at all times.
pedestrian push button A device by which a pedestrian crossing phase may be sought by a
pedestrian.
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Term Definition
pedestrian push button Device to enable pedestrians to register a demand for right-of-way. It
assembly includes the pedestrian indicator. Push button devices are also used for
bicycles and emergency vehicles.
pedestrian refuge A median island, or a section of median, on wide or heavily trafficked
roads, provided as a staging area for pedestrians crossing the road.
pedestrian signal A signal that is intended for the control of pedestrian movement across a
road.
pedestrian signal face A two-aspect signal face for the control of pedestrian movements that
consists of green Walk and red Don't Walk aspects (see pedestrian
aspects).
peeling (delamination) A condition whereby a seal has debonded from the underlying base and
been removed by traffic leaving the surface of the base in an unprotected
condition.
pelican crossing A type of signalised pedestrian crossing. Pelican stands for pedestrian
light controlled.
penetration (bitumen) The vertical distance penetrated by a standard needle entering a
bituminous material under specified conditions of load, time and
temperature. The classification of bitumen on the basis of achieved
penetration has now been superseded by classification on the basis of its
viscosity as measured under specified conditions.
penetration test (soil) A test carried out with a standard instrument to determine the load
bearing capacity of a soil.

penetration value The distance in tenths of millimetres a standard needle sinks into a
bitumen sample under standard conditions.
perceived benefits Benefits as perceived by those who received those benefits, which may
differ from actual benefits, such as in the scenic value of one road
compared to another.
perceived costs Costs as perceived by those who outlay those costs. This especially
relates to costs of travel where most motorists underestimate their own
and the community’s costs of car usage.
percentile speed Speed at or below which the nominated percentage (e.g. 15, 50, 85) of
vehicles are observed to travel under free flow conditions.
perception and reaction The time between the commencement of a stimulus, e.g. change in
time signal condition, and the taking of appropriate action, e.g. application of
vehicle brakes.
perception distance The sight distance required accessing the curvature of horizontal curves
on approach.
perceptual PCMs unobtrusively influence the visual information on display to the
countermeasures (PCMs) driver so that they perceive that certain behaviours such as fast speed
are unsafe or inappropriate. Most treatments are low-cost and do not
introduce additional hazards on the roads and commonly involve painted
lines or additional road surfaces to provide the desired effect.
Performance Based Standards that describe the acceptable safety performance and
Standards (PBS) infrastructure effects for heavy vehicles permitted to operate as PBS
vehicles.
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Term Definition
perimeter The outer extremity of a local area, across which vehicles travel to enter
or exit a local area.
perimeter threshold A coloured and/or textured pavement surface that contrasts with the
adjacent road alerting drivers they are entering a local traffic area. Also
commonly referred to as an entry statement or threshold treatment.
periodic maintenance Maintenance treatments conducted at fairly regular intervals of longer
than one year. For pavements, bitumen resealing, asphalt resheeting
and gravel resheeting are the most common forms of periodic
maintenance. For bridges, replacement of joint seals is one example.
permanent hazard warning A range of signs used to indicate permanent conditions that require
caution or special action, and indicating the particular reason for such
caution or action.
permanent station A permanent station is a counting station installed for long continuous
periods, usually many years.
permeability The property of a material by virtue of which a fluid such as water or air
can pass through it.
permeability reversal Occurs at a pavement layer interface when the coefficient of saturated
permeability of the upper layer is at least 100 times greater than that of
the layer below it.
person trip Any trip made by a person except those trips undertaken by the driver of
a commercial vehicle where the vehicle, at the time, was being used for
commercial purposes.
personal rapid transport Fixed guideway system that provides station-to-station non-stop service
(PRT) in small vehicles carrying one to six passengers, usually travelling
together by choice.
pervious (material) A material through which water can pass.
phase That part of a signal cycle during which one or more movements receive
right-of-way subject to resolution of any vehicle or pedestrian conflicts by
priority rules. A phase is identified by at least one movement gaining
right-of-way at the start of it and at least one movement losing right-of-
way at the end of it.
phase overlap A condition whereby a particular movement subject to traffic signal
control is permitted to run during two or more consecutive phases.
phase sequence The order of phases in a signal cycle (see display sequence, signal
phasing).
phase split Duration of each phase (green time and intergreen time) within a signal
cycle. It is normally expressed as a percentage of cycle length.
phasing see signal phasing
pier An intermediate support in a bridge having more than one span.
pig trailer A trailer with one axle group or single axle near the middle of its load-
carrying surface, and connected to the towing vehicle by a drawbar.
pile A slender member driven, jetted, screwed, or formed in the ground to
resist loads or thrust.
pilot survey Trial survey made in advance of a survey in order to test out survey
methods and questionnaire design.
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Term Definition
pipe drain A drain constructed with pipes or in the form of a pipe.
pit-run gravel Material obtained from a natural deposit of gravel without crushing or
grading or addition of other material.
plain concrete pavement A concrete pavement which is unreinforced.
(PCP)
plan (signal system) see timing plan
planer 1. A self-propelled machine which removes a controlled depth of
pavement material. 2. A device for incorporating a cutter blade which is
pulled or propelled along a road to smooth the surface and improve the
riding quality.
planning scheme Statutory document establishing the land-use controls for the area
covered by the planning scheme, and consisting of a planning scheme
map, or maps, and an ordinance.
plant mix (premix) A general term for mixtures of bituminous binder and aggregate
produced in a central mixing plant.
plastic flow Irreversible deformation due to an applied stress.
plastic material A material in a condition when it can be easily remoulded.
plasticity index (PI) The numerical difference between the value of the liquid limit and the
value of the plastic limit of a soil.
plastomer Polymers loosely classified as plastomers may possess some

elastomeric properties but predominantly exhibit plastic flow properties
under high strain conditions at ambient temperatures. Some examples
include polypropylene, atactic polypropylene and ethylene vinyl acetate.
plate compactor A hand operated vibrating plate compactor.
platform Elevated stage constructed to floor height of passenger vehicles to allow
passengers to board and alight from a vehicle.
platform time Time spent by a public transport vehicle driver in driving or controlling the
vehicle.
platoon A closely spaced group of vehicles or pedestrians travelling together at
substantially the same speed because of signal control, geometric
conditions or other factors.
plucking The loss of aggregate with its attached binder from a seal under traffic,
caused by a separation within the binder film which lacks sufficient
cohesive strength to retain the aggregate in place.
ply rating Term used to identify a given rubber tyre with its maximum
recommended load when used in a specific type of service. An index of
the tyre strength; it does not necessarily represent the number of cord
plies in the tyre.
pneumatic-tyred roller A static roller, the rubber tyred wheels of which are inflated with air.
point of choice Point at which two routes diverge. Between such points a travel time
ratio can be computed.
point of conflict The road space desired by one vehicle or traffic movement, which is
simultaneously required by another vehicle or traffic movement.
Poisson’s ratio The ratio of radial and longitudinal strain.
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Term Definition
polished aggregate friction A measure, on a scale of 0 to 100, of the resistance of an aggregate to
value (PAFV) polishing under the action of traffic as determined in standard laboratory
tests.
polished stone value (PSV) A measure, similar to PAFV, but based on a British Standard.
polishing A pavement surface defect in which the upper faces of the aggregate
become smoother and rounder, particularly in the wheel tracks, as a
result of the abrasive effect of traffic, reducing the available friction
between the road surface and a vehicle tyre.
polymer A predominantly organic substance comprising a very large number of
chemical entities. These chemical entities may comprise identical
segments (producing a homopolymer) or a combination of two or more
different segments (producing a copolymer).
polymer modified asphalt An asphalt made using a polymer modified binder.
(PMA)
polymer modified binder A binder consisting of polymeric materials dispersed in bitumen with
(PMB) enhanced binder performance for particular applications.
poorly graded (gap graded) A soil material deficient in some size fraction, not well graded.
porosity (aggregate) The ratio of the volume of voids in an aggregate sample to the total
volume of the sample.
portable texture meter A portable laser based device capable of measuring pavement surface
macrotexture.
Portland cement An artificial cement manufactured from Portland cement clinker. Usually
referred to as cement.
Portland cement clinker Portland cement clinker is the partially fused product resulting from the
intimate mixing of calcareous and argillaceous or other silica, alumina, or
iron-bearing materials, or any combination of these materials, and
burning them at a clinkering temperature.
Portland cement concrete Concrete in which the binding material is Portland cement. Usually
referred to as concrete.
post Vertical tubular support for traffic signal lanterns and associated signs.
postcard survey Survey in which questionnaire cards are handed out or sent to
respondents for return by post.
potential traffic The total traffic that would move between two terminals assuming ideal
travelling conditions.
pothole A hole in a pavement, frequently rounded in shape, resulting from the
loss of pavement material under traffic.
pozzolan A siliceous or alumino siliceous material which in itself possesses little or
no cementitious value but which in finely divided form may be mixed with
lime or Portland cement to form a cementitious material.
PPP see public private partnership form of project/contract delivery
precoating The coating of an aggregate with an oil, water or bituminous based
material, with or without an adhesion agent, to wet the dust and improve
the subsequent adhesion of bituminous material.
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Term Definition
preliminary engineering Work of locating and designing, making surveys and maps, preparing
specifications and estimates, and doing other engineering work before
letting a contract for construction of a transport project.
pre-emption of signals A system whereby specific vehicles e.g. buses are given preference at
traffic signals.
premix A mixture of cutback and/or fluxed bitumen and aggregate, usually stored
in a stockpile and used for patching.
presence detector A detector capable of indicating the presence of a stationary or moving
vehicle.
present serviceability index An estimate of present serviceability rating based on measurements of
(PSI) the conditions of the pavement surface. Such measurements may be
profile roughness, the extent of cracking, patching and rutting. PSI is
measured on a similar scale to PSR.
present serviceability rating The mean opinion of the members of a rating panel of the adequacy of a
(PSR) particular section of road pavement to serve traffic at a standard speed
associated with the road's function. The panel is required to rate the
pavement on an arbitrary but defined scale.
present value (PV) The discounted value at the present day of a future cost or benefit.
prestressed concrete Concrete in which prior to complete loading, effective internal
compressive stresses are induced deliberately, usually by means of
tensioned steel, to reduce or eliminate tensile stresses when loaded.
preventative maintenance A maintenance activity before or at an early stage in the development of

one or more defects, aimed at preventing occurrence or progression of
the defect(s), usually undertaken on a proactive rather than reactive
basis.
primary/active safety Countermeasures aimed at avoiding a crash e.g. ABS.
primary signal A traffic signal that is located at (or near) the stop line and on the left-
hand side of the approach (see secondary signal and tertiary signal).
primary signal face The signal face mounted on a post at or near the left of the stop line of
the approach (see dual primary signal face, secondary signal face,
tertiary signal face).
prime (prime coat) An application of a primer to a prepared base, without cover aggregate,
to provide penetration of the surface, temporary waterproofing and to
obtain a bond between the pavement and the subsequent seal or
asphalt. It is a preliminary treatment to a more permanent bituminous
surfacing.
prime mover A rigid motor vehicle equipped with a fifth wheel assembly designed to
haul a semi-trailer.
primer A bituminous material of low viscosity and low surface tension used in
priming.
primer binder A material more viscous than a primer and required to act both as a
primer and binder, and used in primer sealing.
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Term Definition
primerseal An application of a primer binder with a fine cover aggregate to a
prepared base to provide penetration of the surface and retain a light
cover of aggregate. It is used as a preliminary treatment to a more
permanent bituminous surfacing. It is intended to carry traffic for a longer
period than a prime.
priority mode In a multimodal journey, a single mode can be assigned to that journey
by ranking all possible modes and using the mode of highest ranking.
priority road A road on which traffic takes precedence over all entering or crossing
traffic at all unsignalised intersections.
priority rule A traffic regulation which assigns priority to one stream of traffic (see
filter turn, opposing movement).
priority traffic That traffic which is allocated priority service at an intersection by the
operation of signals. It may include emergency vehicles or public
transport vehicles. Not to be confused with the term priority road for
unsignalised intersections (a road on which traffic has right-of-way over
all entering or crossing traffic).
probabilistic assignment Multipath assignment method, which assigns trips to one or more
‘reasonable’ paths through the network on the basis of their relative
probability of use.
probationary licence Restricted licence which is the first licence issued to drivers after they
pass their initial driving test. There may be multiple stages of gradually
decreasing restrictions for a probationary/provisional licence in a

graduated licensing system.
process oil A petroleum derived oil produced for purposes other than lubrication, e.g.
tyre rubber compounding.
profile 1. The shape of a pavement surface measured in a vertical plane, from a
datum, parallel to the traffic flow. 2. A construction aid erected to assist in
establishing a batter slope.
profile edge lines see audio-tactile paving
profile index The total of vertical deviations greater than ±2.5 mm from the average
profile.
profiler (cold planer, planer) A self-propelled machine which removes a controlled depth of pavement
material.
profilometer A device for producing a series of numbers related, in a well-defined
way, to a true profile. Roughness measuring devices, other than
mechanical response-type devices and most static devices, are
commonly referred to as profilometers.
progression Progression is a time-relationship, between adjacent traffic signals, which
allows vehicle platoons to be given a green signal as they pass through
the sequence of intersections.
progressive control The operation of a coordinated traffic signal system to provide, as far as
practicable, for the uninterrupted movement of vehicles through
successive signals.
project A set of activities intended to produce a specific output, which has a
definite beginning and end. The activities are interrelated and must be
brought together in a particular order, based on precedence relationships
between the different activities.
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Term Definition
project board The administrative body constituted for the direction of a project.
project brief (handover A specific purpose document outlining what is to occur throughout the
brief) course of a project.
project business case A reasoned argument based on sound engineering and economic
principles upon which the viability of a project is assessed.
project business plan A document setting out the project business objectives including funding
source, practices, resources and sequence of activities relevant to the
delivery of a particular project. The plan should quantify as many of the
objectives as possible and provide budget cash flows. It should also
outline the strategy and tactics intended to be used in achieving the
objectives.
project commissioning The stage at which the project is ready for use e.g. open to traffic.
project delivery The process by which the aim or goal of a project is realised or achieved.
project level A type of road condition survey or data analysis where the main purpose
is to assist with decisions about proposals for a specific project on a
short length of road, as distinct from network decisions.
project plan The document setting out the planned sequence of activities required in
order to achieve successful project delivery outcomes. Includes the
combined documented procedures adopted in planning, organising,
execution and control of the project delivery process. This is subject to
review and revision as necessary during the progress of the project.
project sponsor The organisation or individual that promotes or supports the enablement
of a project from concept to completion.
projection Effectively a narrowing of the road carriageway by an adjustment in the
kerb line generally over a short distance, that may be either raised
(kerbed) or constructed of pavement bars and markings, and may consist
of an island or continuous kerbing.
property line The boundary between a road reserve and the adjacent land.
proud A part or portion of an aggregate particle projecting above another or
above its surroundings.
provisional licence see probationary licence.
PTIPS see public transport information and priority system
public private partnership The use of private sector capital to fund an asset - that may not be
form of project/contract ultimately owned by the public sector - which is used to deliver outcomes
delivery (PPP) for government. PPPs are used most frequently for major asset and
infrastructure procurements.
public road A public place provided for the use of the public for traffic movement, and
which has been declared, or proclaimed, notified or dedicated.
public transport Service by bus, rail, taxi or other means, which provides transport to the
public on a regular basis for payment of a prescribed fare.
public transport capacity Maximum number of passengers which a vehicle is designed to
accommodate according to specified loading conditions. These may be
exceeded on trains under crush load conditions.
public transport captive Persons forced to travel by public transport because they do not own a
car, cannot drive or cannot get a lift.
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Term Definition
public transport information Priority is given to buses or trams at traffic signals by altering the
and priority system (PTIPS) sequencing and timing of the signals. Global positioning systems and
radio data communications deliver information about the public transport
vehicle and their location. This information is used to forecast the arrival
time at traffic signals ahead.
public transport network System of lines and links showing rail, bus and ferry routes, used for
modelling purposes. It includes route maps, service frequency, travel
distance, travel time and speeds. The computer model represents all
these factors.
public transport nodes Locations on major public transport routes where feeder services, such
as trams, buses or taxis form a focus, or where major routes intersect
with cross-town tram or bus routes, with the aim of providing efficient
transfer between all forms of transport and have car and bicycle parking
(see interchanging and modal interchange).
puffin crossing A type of signalised pedestrian crossing utilising sensors to detect
waiting and crossing pedestrians. 'Puffin’ stands for Pedestrian User
Friendly Intelligent Signals.
pug A very wet clay or mud.
pugmill A device for mixing aggregates and binder into a homogenous mixture.
pumping The ejection by traffic action, or ground water pressure, of water and fine
particles in suspension through joints or cracks in a pavement.
purpose of travel Reason why a journey is undertaken. In transport planning these

reasons are usually grouped into general purpose categories within the
two sets of home based and non-home based.
Q
quad axle group A group of four axles in which the horizontal distance between the
centrelines of the outermost axles is more than 3.2 m but not more than
4.9 m.
quality assurance (QA) The systematic action necessary to give confidence of satisfactory
quality. An element of QA is quality control.
quality control (QC) Those tests necessary to determine and control the quality of the product
being produced.
quarry An open-surface working, excavation, etc. from which rock is obtained.
quarry dust The product of a crushing or screening plant mainly passing a 2.36 mm
sieve. Also known as crusher dust.
quarry face The vertical, or near vertical, working surface of a quarry, rock
excavation, gravel pit or tip site.
quarry fines Crushed material which substantially passes a 4.75 mm sieve.
quarry waste Reject material from a crushing and/or screening plant containing a wide
range of sizes.
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Term Definition
quartering The reduction in quantity of a large sample of material by intimately
mixing the material together, then dividing the heap into four
approximately equal parts by diameters at right angles, removing two
diagonally opposite quarters and mixing the two remaining quarters
intimately together, so as to obtain a truly representative half of the
original mass. The process is repeated until a sample of the required
size is obtained.
queue A line of vehicles or pedestrians waiting to proceed through an
intersection. Slowly moving vehicles or pedestrians joining the back of
the queue are usually considered part of the queue. The internal queue
dynamics can involve starts and stops. A faster-moving line of vehicles
is often referred to as a moving queue or a platoon.
queuing The forming of a line of delayed vehicles.
queuing area The area of a circulation roadway between the property boundary and
the vehicle control point, available for the queuing of vehicles.
quicklime Calcium oxide (CaO). It is used in lime stabilisation of clayey materials.
It needs to be slaked by the addition of water.
quick-set quick-traffic A bitumen emulsion based slurry system (usually cationic) that allows
system early opening of the slurry surfacing to traffic; normally less than 1 hour
after placement.
R
radial road A road or highway radiating from the centre of an urban area.
rainfall intensity The rate of rainfall (mm/h).
raised intersection platform A raised flat section of roadway extending across the apron of an
intersection ramped up from the normal level of the street.
raised pavement marker A device used to supplement or replace traffic lines on the road surface.
It may be retroreflective (see raised reflective pavement markers).
raised reflective pavement A white or coloured retroreflective device attached to the surface of the
markers (RRPMs) road pavement.
raised table A mid-block raised flat section of roadway ramped up from the normal
level of the street used to reduce vehicle speeds and discourage through
traffic use. Also commonly referred to as a flat-top road hump, raised
platform, plateau or speed table.
ramp 1. A circulation roadway that connects an access driveway to an off-
street car park on a substantially different level or that connects two
levels in a multi-level car park. 2. Carriageway within an interchange
providing for travel between two arms (legs) of the intersecting roads. 3.
Traffic assignment: a link between a freeway node and an arterial node.
ramp terminal The point on an interchange ramp at which it intersects with a surface
road or street.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
random breath testing Capacity for police to randomly pull drivers over without the need to give
a reason and perform a breath test to determine whether the driver has a
blood alcohol content (BAC) higher than the accepted legal limit for their
licence category. Persons who blow a high BAC are required to submit a
blood sample for confirmation of their BAC as this is legally required for
prosecution. However, a person who refuses to submit to a blood test
after being found to have a high BAC may still be charged with refusing
to submit to a blood test. Penalties differ between jurisdictions.
RAPID see real-time advanced priority and information delivery
rapid setting bitumen An emulsion characterised by rapid breaking and suitable for sealing and
emulsion (breaking) tack coat applications but normally unsuitable for mixing with aggregate
or stabilising materials.
rate Number of accidents per unit of exposure. For example ‘number of
accidents per million vehicle kilometres travelled’.
rate of rotation The rate of rotation required achieving a suitable distance to uniformly
rotate the crossfall from normal to full superelevation. The usual value
adopted is 0.025 rad/sec; 0.035 rad/sec is the maximum value.
ravelling A pavement surface defect involving progressive disintegration of the
pavement surface through loss of both binder and aggregates.
reaction distance The distance travelled during the reaction time.
reaction time The time between the driver’s reception of stimulus and taking
appropriate action.
re-alignment An alteration to the control line of a road that may affect only its vertical
alignment but, more usually, alters its horizontal alignment. A method of
widening a road reservation.
real-time advanced priority A bus priority and passenger information system developed by Brisbane
and information delivery City Council. RAPID uses detector loops in the road and transponders on
(RAPID) buses to track the location of buses. This data collected is used to predict
arrival times at all busway stations and selected stops on the suburban
network. The arrival time information is displayed on realtime passenger
information signs at these stops.
rear overhang The distance between the centreline of the rear axle of a vehicle and the
rear extremity of the bodywork.
rearward amplification The degree to which the trailing unit(s) amplify or exaggerate lateral
motions of the hauling unit.
reassurance sign A sign erected beyond an intersection or beyond the limits of urban areas
to reassure motorists that they are travelling towards their intended
destination, and to indicate distances thereto.
recall feature A feature of traffic signal controllers whereby a demand is placed for a
particular phase when no other demands are present and all approach
timers have expired (see arterial demand).
recidivist Person who repeatedly commits offences.
recirculation The pumping of binder from a tank through a pipe system and back to
the tank.
reclaimed asphalt The material reclaimed from an asphalt pavement by various means
pavement (RAP) including cold-milling, grader, backhoe, jackpick or other methods.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
recording traffic counter A traffic counter that continuously records on a suitable medium the
traffic count at the expiry of each of a series of specified periods of time.
recovery time Time allowed in a timetable, in addition to the normal running time, for
the purpose of recovery from delays. Inserted prior to critical path
locations or at end of journey.
recycling (pavement) The re-use of paving material.
red arrow drop out A form of partial control that uses three-aspect (red, yellow, green) right
turn arrows on a six-aspect signal face and extinguishes the red arrow
for the adjacent green circle display to permit filter turns after a few
seconds in the through phase.
red time Duration of the red signal display for a phase or a movement (see
effective green and red times).
referee sample That portion of a bulk sample reserved for additional testing.
reflection cracking Surface cracking resulting from movement associated with cracks or
joints in an underlying pavement layer.
reflective sheeting Retroreflective sheet material usually consisting of minute glass beads
enclosed in a thin transparent smooth surface plastic matrix, tinted
according to the required colour.
reflector button A small retroreflective device used on traffic signs or markers for the
guidance of night time traffic.
reflectorisation The application of a retroreflective coating or reflector buttons, to a

surface or object to improve its visibility at night.
refuge area An area of carriageway set aside for the exclusive use of pedestrians or
stationary vehicles.
regional growth model Land-use model used to estimate and distribute growth in population,
employment, etc.
regular service Service by a nominated design vehicle at least once per day.
regulating course An asphalt course of varying thickness applied to a pavement surface to
(corrective course) adjust its shape preparatory to overlaying with another course.
regulatory impact statement A document prepared by the department, agency, statutory authority or
(RIS) board responsible for a regulatory proposal following consultation with
affected parties, formalising and evidencing some of the steps that must
be taken in good policy formulation. It requires an assessment of the
costs and benefits of each option, followed by a recommendation
supporting the most effective and efficient option. It must be
incorporated into the assessment process used by all areas of
government responsible for reviewing and reforming regulations.
regulatory sign A sign indicating an obligation to comply with an instruction given under
order, regulation, Act, ordinance or by-law. There are two types of
regulatory signs: 1. prohibitory signs that restrict or prohibit certain
actions; 2. mandatory signs that require certain actions.
regulatory traffic control A sign, signal, marking, or installation indicating an obligation to comply
device with a legally enforceable instruction.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
rehabilitation (pavement) Major surfacing action for the purpose of returning the structural
condition of the pavement to its as-constructed or design condition (i.e.
recurring or maintenance), or to exceed the as-constructed condition (i.e.
capital or construction).
reinforced concrete Concrete strengthened within its mass by steel bars, or mesh or steel
fibres.
reinforcement Bars, or mesh, usually of steel, embedded in concrete, masonry, or
brickwork, for the purpose of resisting particular stresses, e.g. tensile,
temperature related, etc.
rejects secondary scalpings The portion of material in a screening plant which passes through a small
screen after the primary crushing.
rejuvenating (recycling) A light petroleum product, usually containing maltenes, added to
agent (asphalt) reclaimed asphalt pavement material to restore proper viscosity and
plasticity to the bitumen.
rejuvenation A light application of an emulsified bituminous material to replace part of
the lost maltene fraction in oxidised bitumen.
rejuvenator (sprayed seal) A liquid product in which a substantial amount of light petroleum product
is suspended in water, or vice versa. This is applied in the form of a
spray to asphalt or bituminous sealed pavement surfacings to restore the
properties of the bituminous binder.
relative compaction 1. The ratio between the field bulk density and the bulk density of the
(compaction ratio, relative nominated mix when compacted in the laboratory. 2. The ratio between
density) the field bulk density and the maximum density of the nominated mix. 3.
The ratio between the field bulk density and the maximum theoretical
density of the nominated mix.
relative speed The vector sum of the speed of two vehicles.
remaining life (remaining The period, under current or stated use (e.g. traffic volume, type and
service life) growth), during which the asset condition is expected to remain within
stated limits, provided that appropriate routine and preventive (periodic)
maintenance are carried out.
remix A hot in-place recycling method in which add-mix is added to the heated
and scarified pavement layer.
remix plus As for remix, with an additional wearing course layer being placed in the
one operation before compacting both layers.
repave A hot in-place recycling method in which a second, usually thin, layer of
new asphalt (wearing course) is placed over the recycled mix before
compacting both layers.
repeatability A statistical term to indicate the extent of variation in outputs about the
mean for a single operator using the same method. Repeatability is the
standard deviation of measures obtained in repeat tests using the same
measuring device and operator on a single, randomly selected road.
repeat right turn phasing Phasing that introduces the arrow-controlled right turn twice in the same
cycle.
replacement cost A form of asset valuation where the asset value is determined by
calculating the current cost of the most appropriate modern asset with
equivalent service potential.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
reporting interval The length in which at least 20 contiguous test points will be collected
using a deflectograph. Reporting length could also be based on
homogeneous sections of testing, etc.
reproducibility A statistical term to indicate the extent of variation in outputs about the
mean for multiple operators or measuring devices using the same
method.
reproduction cost A form of asset valuation where the asset value is determined by
calculating the current cost of constructing or acquiring a copy of the
existing asset.
reseal A sprayed seal applied to a surface which has an existing seal.
reserve width see right-of-way width
reshape A hot in-place recycling method for reprofiling the pavement, and which
involves no addition of new material.
resheet To recondition a pavement, by adding a new layer of material.
residential area Land largely occupied for residential purposes but which includes small
shopping centres and ancillary facilities and primary schools.
residential property A property having more than three residences (see domestic property).
residential street A road, the main function of which is to provide access to residential
properties.
residual binder A binder that remains in service after any volatiles have evaporated.
residual bitumen Bituminous material obtained by processing the residue from the refining
of naturally occurring crude petroleum.
residual median The remnant area of the median adjacent to right turn lanes.
residual queue The number of vehicles left in a queue at the expiry of a signal phase.
residual value A term used in economic analysis for the value of an asset at the end of
the evaluation period.
resilient modulus (elastic The ratio of stress to recoverable strain under repeated loading
stiffness) conditions.
resource costs Costs as represented in terms of actual consumption of human or natural
resources, which often differ from perceived costs and likewise may differ
from financial costs. Note: Financial costs include import duties, tolls and
other transfer payments which do not reflect consumption of resources.
rest area An area of land adjacent to the road provided for the parking of vehicles
and for the occupants to rest.
restricted licence A restricted driver licence enables a motorist to continue to drive with
certain conditions attached to their licence when they would not
otherwise be entitled to drive.
resurfacing To improve a pavement surface by the addition of a new wearing course.
retaining wall A wall constructed to resist lateral pressure from the adjoining ground or
to maintain in position a mass of earth.
retarder An admixture which reduces the rate of hardening of cement, thus
increasing the time during which concrete may be worked.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
retroreflection Reflection in which light is returned close to the direction from which it
came, this property being maintained over wide variations of the direction
of the incident light.
retroreflective A device or material capable of reflecting incident light in the direction
close to that from which it came.
retroreflective marker A device that produces an effective point source of light at normal
highway viewing distances by reflecting incident light in directions close
to the direction from which it came.
retroreflector A device that reflects incident light in directions close to the direction
from which it came.
revaluation A fresh valuation, as distinct from an indexed version of an earlier
valuation.
reverse commuting 1. Process of travelling in a direction opposite to the direction of peak
traffic. An example is travelling from a residence in the city to a place of
employment in the suburbs. Referred to as ‘reverse’ because it is the
opposite of the usual pattern of travel from a suburban residence to a job
in the city. 2. Quantity of demand in a direction opposite to the direction
of peak traffic.
reverse curve A section of road alignment consisting of two curves turning in opposite
directions and having a common tangent point or being joined by a short
length of tangent.
reverse loading Quantity of demand in a direction opposite from the direction of peak
traffic.
reversible lane A lane or carriageway assigned for the use of traffic in one direction at
certain times, and in the opposite direction at other times (see tidal flow).
revetment A facing of stone or other material laid on a sloping face of earth to
maintain the slope in position or to protect it from erosion.
rheology The study of deformation and flow of fluids and solids.
ribbon development Commercial centres that have developed, usually along a major road,
and which present a continuous shopping and business frontage having
greater vehicular and pedestrian activity than land away from the road.
ride quality (driver comfort) The level of vibration that a vehicle's driver is exposed to during a
working shift. It can lead to reduced comfort and decreased proficiency,
and contributes to fatigue.
ride-sharing see car-pooling
right turn trap A situation where a driver executing a filter right turn manoeuvre at the
start of the yellow interval thinks that the signals change to yellow for the
opposing traffic at the same time, and therefore proceeds and runs into
an opposing through vehicle for which the signal display would still be
green. Also known as ‘lagging right turn problem’ or ‘yellow trap’ (see
lagging right turn).
right-left staggered see right-left staggered junction
intersection
right-left staggered junction A junction in which a driver turns to the right on entering the intersecting
carriageway and then left in order to continue the route. Note: This is the
preferred configuration to a left-right staggered junction.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
right-of-way width Amount of land reserved or used for transport purposes.
rigid pavement A pavement composed of concrete or having a concrete basecourse.
rigid trucks Motor vehicles exceeding 3.5 tonnes GVM, constructed with a load
carrying area. This includes normal rigid trucks with a tow bar, draw bar
or other non-articulated coupling on the rear of the vehicle.
ring road 1. A road that goes around, rather than through, an urban area. 2. A
road or highway, roughly circumferential, about the centre of an urban
area and permitting traffic to avoid the centre of such area.
rip table Matrix of the number of journeys between zones. Usually stored in
binary computer files in one of several standard formats.
ripped rock Aggregate (usually gravel) obtained from local sources. The tines of
earthmoving equipment are used to 'rip' into soft rock and break it up.
riprap Medium to large size rock protection, against scour, applied (usually by
dumping) to the face of an embankment.
risk The potential realisation of the unwanted or adverse consequences of an
event from which there is no prospect of gain.
risk acceptance An informed and formal decision to accept the consequences and the
likelihood of a particular risk.
risk analysis A systematic use of available information to determine how often
specified events might occur and the magnitude of their consequences.
risk homeostasis Theory that suggests that individuals subconsciously have a level of risk
that they are prepared to accept and they adjust their risk-taking
behaviour towards that level of perceived risk. When safety measures
are imposed they may relax their cautious behaviour because they
perceive that the risk has been ameliorated.
risk management The process of planning, organising, directing and controlling the
resources and activities of an organisation in order to minimise the
adverse effects of accidental loss to that organisation at least possible
cost.
risk rating An estimate of risk assigned to an individual site or activity.
risk taking Risk taking has been described as 'testing boundaries'. It is the act of
deliberately placing oneself in the path of potential harm. Some people
report experiencing a 'buzz' or rush of adrenalin when they take risks and
some people are more prone to risk taking than others. In road safety,
risk taking has been studied extensively, particularly with regards to
reducing the over-representation of young and usually male drivers in
crash statistics.
road Link in the network which exists to carry traffic reasonably efficiently, on
which severe traffic restraint is inappropriate (includes ‘arterials’, ‘main
roads’ and other traffic routes).
road (way) A route trafficable by motor vehicles; in law, the public right-of-way
between boundaries of adjoining property.
road authorities National or state road authority, municipality, other body or individual
responsible for the care, control and maintenance of road infrastructure.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
road capacity Maximum number of vehicles or pedestrians that can pass over a given
section of a lane, road or footpath in one direction (or in both directions
for a two-lane or three-lane road) during a given time period under
prevailing road and traffic conditions. It is the maximum rate of flow that
has a reasonable expectation of occurring. In the absence of a time
modifier, capacity is an hourly volume. The capacity would not normally
be exceeded without changing one or more of the conditions that prevail.
In expressing capacity, it is essential to state the prevailing road and
traffic conditions under which the capacity is applicable.
road classification 1. Category of a road described by Austroads functional classifications.
2. Consistent terminology and designation of roads to provide a basis for
planning and decision making by state and local government agencies
responsible for various aspects of road administration.
road closures Methods to restrict access to/from a local area and limit traffic flow at
intersections (including full, half and diagonal closures, etc.).
road cushions Form of road hump that allows non-car traffic (cyclists /buses/emergency
vehicles) to pass unimpeded.
road friendly suspension A suspension system which has a natural frequency less than 2 Hz and a
minimum damping ratio of 0.2, with at least half of the damping
generated by hydraulic shock absorbers.
road functional The classification of roads into groups according to their function.
classification
road furniture A general term covering all signs, streetlights and protective devices for
the control, guidance and safety of traffic, and the convenience of road
users.
road hierarchy The grading of roads according to increasing or decreasing importance
of their traffic-carrying or other function.
road hump A curved raised area of a road used to reduce vehicle speeds and
discourage through traffic use. Also commonly referred to as a speed
hump and includes types such as the Watts profile hump and the
sinusoidal hump.
road inventory Inventory of all road characteristics, i.e. control devices, parking
restrictions, road widths, number of traffic lanes, etc.
road maintenance The work required to keep a road at its specified level of service,
including the road surfacing, structure, furniture and drainage system.
road marker see pavement marker
road marking A word, figure, symbol, mark, line, raised marker or stud, or something
else, on the surface of a road to direct or warn traffic, but does not
include a painted island.
road marking paint A liquid product containing solids in an organic or water-based solvent,
which can be applied in a single or multicomponent system. After
application, it forms a cohesive film by solvent evaporation and/or
chemical reaction process.
road marking(s) All longitudinal and transverse lines, and other markings, including
diagonal/chevron markings, messages, numerals, arrows, kerb markings
and markings for parking, for the purpose of guiding traffic.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
road network A system of links and nodes designed to represent the system of roads
on the ground, which includes link characteristics and turning restrictions
or prohibitions (see network).
road number A unique numerical identifier for each road.
road pavement stabilisation The modification of any natural or prepared material to improve or
maintain its load carrying capacity.
road pricing Method of reducing traffic demand by collecting a fee or charge from
road users.
road reserve 1. A legally described area within which facilities such as roads,
footpaths and associated features may be constructed for public travel.
Often called road. 2. A term customarily used in New Zealand to refer to
all land between the legal road boundaries and typically includes the
carriageway, footpaths and other accessways, berms and other unpaved
areas. Where roads have not been formed, it also refers to so called
'paper roads'.
road roughness 1. A condition parameter used to characterise deviations from the
intended longitudinal profile of a road surface, with characteristic
dimensions that affect vehicle dynamics (and hence road user costs),
ride quality and dynamic pavement loading. 2. A measure of surface
irregularities with wavelengths between 0.5 and 50 m in the longitudinal
profile of one or two wheel tracks in a traffic lane, reported in
dimensionless units as either International Roughness Index (IRI, m/km)
or as NAASRA Roughness Meter counts (NRM, counts/km) for the lane.

road safety engineering A competence and experience in the investigation and analysis of crash
locations and the design of effective remedial engineering treatments.
road sign see traffic sign
road train A heavy vehicle combination, except B-double, consisting or a motor
vehicle towing at least two trailers (counting as a single trailer a converter
dolly supporting a semi-trailer).
road type Road types are approximately homogenous sections of road with similar
condition, carrying a similar traffic load under similar climatic and subsoil
conditions. Consequently, a road network can be made up of a number
of road types, the number being dependent on the accuracy required of
the analysis and the available computing power to undertake the
analysis.
road usage Signifies those sector/s of the economy that the road primarily services.
road user movement (RUM) The movements being undertaken by people involved in a crash. This
term means the same as, and in most jurisdictions has been replaced by
DCA or VMC. From this term came the expression ‘RUM code’.
roadbase (base) 1. Unbound pavement material intended for use as base. 2. The layer
underlying the surface which supports and distributes loads due to traffic,
etc.
roadside That area between the reserve boundary and the nearest road shoulder.
roadside amenity An area set aside to provide users with an opportunity to take breaks to
reduce driver fatigue and to stop safely for any vehicle checks, meal
breaks, toilet breaks and driver changes.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
roadside infrastructure A general term covering all road furniture, including signs, street lights
(road furniture) and protective devices for the control, guidance and safety of traffic, and
the convenience of road users.
roadside interview survey Stopping vehicles at a survey station at the roadside and interviewing
drivers.
roadside safety barrier A device erected parallel to the road to retain vehicles that are out of
control.
roadway Any one part of the width of a road devoted particularly to the use of
vehicles, inclusive of shoulders and auxiliary lanes.
roadworks A general term for any work on a road for construction, repair or
maintenance.
rock A geological term to describe a kind of mineral matter (e.g. igneous rock,
sedimentary rock).
rocking Pavement deformation, associated with rigid pavements, caused by the
'pumping' of fines, related to poor subbase or subgrade support, or
differential support.
roller An item of equipment, either drawn or self-propelled, used for
compacting pavement material.
rolling resistance The resistance that occurs when a wheel or tyre rolls.
rotary see roundabout
rotary carriageway The carriageway surrounding the central island of a roundabout. Also
called a circulating carriageway.
roughness see road roughness
round trip Any journey by one vehicle or unit from the start of the route to the end of
it and back again to the start.
roundabout A channelised intersection at which all traffic moves clockwise around a
central traffic island.
roundabout regulatory sign The sign (R 1-3) specified in the Australian Standard AS1742.1, placed
at each entry to a roundabout to indicate that all entering vehicles must
give way to vehicles that are within the roundabout and approaching from
the right.
roundabout warning sign The sign (W 2-7) in AS1742.1 generally placed on approaches to a
roundabout to alert drivers to the presence of a roundabout ahead where
it may not be obvious to approaching traffic.
rounded aggregate An aggregate which is generally spherical or oval in shape and has a
smooth surface with no sharp or broken edges.
rounding A curvature or curved section at the intersection of batters providing a
transition between the two slopes.
route 1. That combination of road sections connecting an origin and
destination. 2. In traffic assignment, a continuous group of links
connecting two centroids, which normally requires the minimum time to
traverse. 3. The path travelled by a public transport vehicle.
route kilometres Sum of the round-trip lengths of all routes operated, regardless of the
number of times certain portions of a network may be used by different
routes.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
route marker A sign indicating by means of a number, a device, or a colour, the course
of a particular route.
route service bus A bus licensed to carry seated or standing passengers (or both) on
approved routes.
routine maintenance Small mainly reactive works which are normally anticipated within a
budget timeframe, but their precise nature, location and timing are not
known in advance. Routine maintenance mainly consists of minor
activities planned on a short term basis, usually about two weeks or less.
RRPM see raised reflective pavement marker
rubber Naturally occurring polymer of isoprene. Available as an emulsion called
latex. Synthetic rubbers are also manufactured.
rubberised asphalt An asphalt in which the binder consists of bitumen modified by the
incorporation of rubber, either natural or synthetic or other suitable
polymer, which helps resist fatigue of asphalt.
rubberised bitumen seal A sprayed seal where the binder consists of bitumen modified by the
(rubber seal) incorporation of rubber, either natural or synthetic.
rubble Material consisting of stone of irregular shapes and sizes, broken brick or
the like, used to provide a stable or permeable filling or for other
purposes.
RUM see road user movement
rumble bars see rumble strips

rumble strips Narrow raised or specifically textured strips placed on a pavement or
sealed shoulder, generating noise and vibrations through vehicles in
order to alert drivers and encourage them to slow down (see safety
bars). Also used between opposing traffic lanes as a warning device.
run The area of pavement selected for coverage in a single continuous
operation of the sprayer, profiler, stabiliser or paver. The area of
pavement selected for coverage with bituminous slurry during a single
continuous operation of the paving unit.
run of quarry Material produced by blasting in the quarry, without further processing
such as crushing or sieving.
running course A thin layer of loose stone which protects the crust of an unsealed road.
running interval The period during which a particular traffic movement is permitted to run
through a signalised intersection, and which is indicated by the display of
a green aspect.
running lane The portion of the carriageway allotted for the use of a single line of
vehicles.
running speed The speed over a specified section of highway, being the distance
divided by running time. The average for all traffic, or a component
thereof, is the summation of distances divided by the summation of
running time.
running time The time a vehicle is in motion.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
runoff 1. A general term for water (normally from rainfall) flowing across the
surface of the ground. 2. That part of the water precipitated onto a
catchment area which flows as surface discharge from the catchment
area past a specified point.
rural arterial Roads that provide a secondary network supporting the national
highways, linking centres as well as providing secondary interstate links
(see arterial road (rural)).
rural motorway A motorway connecting urban and industrial areas that are some
considerable distance apart.
rut A vertical deformation of a pavement surface formed by the wheels of
vehicles.
rut depth A measure of pavement rutting determined from the shape of the
transverse profile. Lane rut depth is the maximum rut depth across the
entire transverse profile. Wheelpath rut depth is the maximum rut depth
in each wheelpath or either half of the transverse profile.
rut-filling (slurry) The placing of microsurfacing in wheel path ruts up to 50 mm deep using
a purpose-built spreader box called a rut-filling box.
rutting The longitudinal vertical deformation of a pavement surface in a
wheelpath, measured relative to a straight edge placed at right angles to
the traffic flow and across the wheelpath, with a length/width ratio greater
than 4:1.
S
safe intersection sight The sight distance required for a driver on the priority road to observe a
distance (SISD) vehicle from a side road moving into a collision situation, and to
decelerate to a stop before reaching the collision point.
Safe System The Safe System approach emphasises the way different elements of
the road transport system combine and interact with human behaviour to
produce an overall effect on road trauma. The key components of the
system are safer roads and roadsides (infrastructure), safer speeds and
safer vehicles. The Safe System approach is the current philosophy
behind the approach to road safety in Australia. The approach accepts
that humans will make errors and so crashes are likely to occur. What is
required is a road system that takes account of these errors and of the
physical tolerances of humans in such circumstances, allowing road
users to survive and avoid serious injury in the event of a crash.
safety barrier A physical barrier separating roadside hazards or opposing traffic and
the travelled way, designed to resist penetration by an out-of-control
vehicle and as far as practicable, to stop or redirect colliding vehicles.
safety bars Raised transverse bars placed in a series on a pavement or sealed
should to warn or discourage drivers from using that portion of a
carriageway (see rumble strips).
safety fence see guardrail
safety ramp 1. A ramp designed to stop out-of-control vehicles, usually trucks, by
using gravel arrestor beds, upgrades, or a combination of both. 2. A short
trafficable spur road, usually with a steep upgrade, provided for
emergency use by vehicles on steep downgrades.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
safety space A space between a hazard or work site and safety barriers, etc., to
ensure traffic keeps a safe distance from the hazard or from workers on
the work site.
safety zone A pedestrian island or refuge at a bus or tram stop. It includes a defined
area within a traffic island at a channelised intersection where people
wait, board or disembark from buses or trams.
sag curve A concave vertical curve in the longitudinal profile of a road.
salinity The saltiness or dissolved salt content of a body of water.
salvage value The estimated value of an asset at the end of its useful life.
sample splitter A device for obtaining a representative sample of material by division of a
larger sample.
sampling The selection by a standard method of a representative portion of a
material for the purpose of ascertaining its characteristics.
sand Natural or man-made mineral particles ranging in size from 2 mm to 60
microns and are free of appreciable quantities of clay and silt.
sand asphalt A mixture of bitumen and well-graded sand, with or without filler, which is
usually mixed, spread and compacted while hot.
sand clay A mixture of materials in which neither of the two components constitute
more than about two-thirds of the mixture.
sand equivalent test An empirical measure of the quantity and type of fines in the fraction of
an aggregate or soil which passes a 4.75 mm sieve.
sand patch test A volumetric test in which a known volume of sand (or glass beads) is
spread over a circular area of pavement until the texture accommodates
all the sand. The resulting area is divided into the known volume of sand
(or beads) to produce an 'average depth of texture'.
saturated phase A signal phase in which the maximum possible number of vehicles enter
the intersection.
saturation flow 1. The flow past a point on a carriageway which would be obtained if
there was a continuous queue of vehicles waiting upstream of that point.
2. The rate of flow of vehicles across a STOP line at a signalised
approach during the effective green time if there was a continuous queue
of vehicles waiting to move during that time, and usually expressed as
vehicles per hour of green.
scabbing Loss of patches of aggregate from a seal.
scarification (asphalt) The removal of the top 25 mm to 50 mm of an asphalt pavement, usually
after heating.
scarifying The systematic disruption and loosening of the top of a pavement or of
natural ground by mechanical or other means.
SCATS see Sydney Coordinated Adaptive Traffic System
SCATS DS Degree of saturation in the SCATS adaptive control method.
SCATS master isolated The SCATS adaptive control method for a single (isolated) signalised
control intersection.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
scatter coat A light application of small size aggregate to temporarily ‘lock in’ a larger
size aggregate seal to reduce aggregate movement during rolling and
initial trafficking.
scheme A total plan of physical treatments and other measures for a street, group
of streets, or area.
SCOOT see split cycle offset optimisation technique
scramble-crossing phase An exclusive pedestrian phase at an intersection where pedestrians are
allowed to cross in any direction including diagonally within the limits of
the crosswalk lines (see exclusive pedestrian phase).
scrap rubber Rubber particles manufactured from waste or reclaimed rubber products
such as vehicle tyres and graded to conform to a specified size range.
scrap rubber asphalt An asphalt made using scrap rubber modified bitumen binder.
scrap rubber modified A two phase system of vulcanised rubber particles dispersed in bitumen
binder where the particles are partially digested and partially swollen by the
digestion of bitumen oils.
screed 1. That part at the rear of a paver which strikes-off and levels the asphalt
mix to grade and slope and imparts initial compaction to the asphalt mix
by means of vibration or tamping or a combination of both. 2. A strip of
wood or metal which is moved by hand to strike-off or finish a surface to
a required shape or texture. 3. The operation of forming a surface by the
use of screeds.
screen A large sieve usually mechanically operated used to separate material by

size. The sieving surface may be either flat or cylindrical in form.
screen line An arbitrary line across an area upon which traffic counts are obtained at
each point where the line intersects a road.
screenings (coarse Aggregate screened to a single size substantially within the range 26.5
aggregate) mm to 4.75 mm and usually used for sprayed seals.
SCRIM see Sideways force Coefficient Routine Investigation Machine
seagull intersection An intersection where a triangular island is used to separate turning
traffic from through traffic in the same carriageway.
seagull island A triangular island used to separate right turning traffic from through
traffic in the same carriageway.
seal (bituminous) A thin surface layer of bituminous material into which aggregate is
incorporated.
seal coat 1. A bituminous waterproofing layer on top of a pavement. 2. A chip seal
placed on top of a primed or first coat sealed surface.
seal coat (geotextile) The application of a seal to provide a durable wearing course. It may be
reinforced with a geotextile.
sealed carriageway That portion of the road pavement sealed to protect and waterproof the
underlying pavement, (inclusive of sealed shoulders) and provide a
suitable driving surface for vehicles.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
sealed shoulder The sealed edge of roads outside of the travelled carriageway (the
shoulder) of roads. Sometimes it is delineated by an edge line applied
between the sealed shoulder and the travelled section of a carriageway.
The treatment is almost invariably associated with unkerbed roads, and
is often applicable to rural roads.
seasonal station This is a counting station installed for a specific period (usually one year)
to obtain information for factoring short term counts to establish AADT.
seat kilometres Performance indicator in which the number of seats provided is multiplied
by the number of kilometres travelled. When compared to passenger
kilometres, efficiency level can be established.
second aggregate (NZ) A non-premium aggregate with sufficient durability to support its
economic use on unsealed roads.
second coat seal (NZ) Waterproof bituminous surfacing.
secondary controller A traffic signal controller under the control of a master controller.
secondary/passive safety Countermeasures aimed at reducing the severity of the vehicle damage
or road user injury e.g. seat belts.
secondary signal A traffic signal located on the far right side of the controlled area.
secondary signal face The signal face mounted on a post on the downstream side to the right of
the approach (see primary signal face, tertiary signal face).
section operating speed The 85th percentile speed of cars traversing a section of road alignment.
seepage The exudation from an exposed surface of small quantities of water.

segment (links, blocks, A section of road within which the road service level standard is
treatment lengths) consistent. A segment for pavement management purposes is generally
between 500 m and 5 km long in rural areas (much shorter in urban
areas).
segregated footway A footpath on which bicycles are permitted but, by regulation, are
required to use a separate area of the path to that used by pedestrians.
The separate areas are usually marked by a longitudinal line on the
pavement.
segregated path Path now referred to as a separated path.
segregation Separation of coarse aggregate from the matrix of a graded material
such as crushed rock, asphalt and concrete. Separation of the cement-
water paste from an aggregate in concrete.
select fill (selected fill) Fill complying with specified requirements (CBR, grading, PI, etc.).
semi-actuated control see traffic-actuated control
semi-barrier kerb A kerb designed to deter vehicles from leaving the carriageway, but
which is less restrictive than a barrier kerb (see barrier kerb).
semi-mountable kerb A kerb designed so that it can be driven across in an emergency or on
special occasions without damage to the vehicle.
semi-traffic actuated A traffic signal controller in which the sequence of aspects and the
controller duration of some, but not all, intervals are varied in accordance with
varying demands.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
semi-trailer A trailer (including a pole-type trailer) that has one axle group or single
axle to the rear, and a means of attachment to a prime mover that results
in some of the load being imposed on the prime mover.
sensor measured texture A continuous measure of macrotexture where the pavement surface is
depth (SMTD) divided into smaller segments of a given base length, approximately 300
mm long, which are analysed, assigned a value and averaged to give a
mean value for a specific length of profile.
separated path A path divided into separated sections one of which is designated for the
exclusive use of cyclists and an alternate section for other path users.
separation line A line marking the division of a carriageway between traffic moving in
opposite directions, and across which overtaking and right turning
manoeuvres may be made.
separator An area separating adjacent carriageways, upon each of which traffic
usually moves in the same direction.
sequence see display sequence
service area 1. Land with access to and from a highway, used for the provision of
certain amenities and services such as maintenance of vehicles and sale
of fuel. 2. Geographical area that a public transport system is considered
to serve, normally based on acceptable walking distances from the
station or stops, e.g. 0.4 km. 3. The area in a development set aside for
the manoeuvring, parking and loading or unloading of commercial
vehicles for the delivery or removal of goods, freight or waste.

service bay A designated space clear of the apron to accommodate a commercial
vehicle parked at a loading dock.
service road That part of a road that: 1. is separated from other parts of the road by a
dividing strip that is not designed or developed, wholly or mainly, to
separate vehicles travelling in opposite directions, and 2. is designed or
developed to be used, wholly or mainly, by traffic servicing adjacent land;
or indicated to be a service road by information on or with a traffic control
device on the road.
service time Time spent by a public transport vehicle driver in charge of the vehicle.
service trench A trench for a public utility such as gas, electricity, telecommunications,
water, sewage pipes; often within the road right-of-way.
service volume The maximum traffic volume that can be accommodated on or over a
traffic facility at a specified level of service.
serviceability The degree to which a facility meets relevant requirements, standards or
satisfaction of the road user. It may be quantified by factors such as
riding quality and rut depth.
services Supply lines for water, electricity, gas, telephones, etc.
servicing rate The rate at which vehicles can be passed through a facility, e.g. through
a toll gate.
set up To harden or cure by evaporation of volatiles.
settlement A downward movement of the soil or of the structure it supports. See
also differential settlement.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
settlement test (emulsion) A test of the quality of an emulsion of bitumen, made by observing the
quantity of bitumen deposited from the emulsion in a given time under
specified conditions.
severity Either ‘injury severity’, from fatal to uninjured, or ‘crash severity’, which
refers to highest injury category or (if no one is injured) the highest
damage category occurring in the crash.
services Supply lines for water, electricity, gas, telephones, etc.
shadow vehicle A vehicle that provides close-up protection to the rear of workers on foot.
shale Sedimentary argillaceous rock occurring in or capable of being split into
thin laminae.
shallow shear Where a pavement layer loses stability and shoves under vehicle
loading.
shape correction Correcting the shape of a road with an overlay.
shared footway A footpath on which pedestrians and bicyclists mix, but on which
bicyclists must give way to pedestrians.
shared lane A lane allocated for use by two or more movements, e.g. shared through
and right turn lane (see exclusive lane).
shared path A paved area particularly designed (with appropriate dimensions,
alignment and signing) for the movement of cyclists and pedestrians.
shared zone 1. A length of carriageway in which vehicles are required by regulation to

give way to pedestrians. 2. Residential road surfaced and marked such
that motorists recognise it as an area shared by both vehicles and
pedestrians. A reduced speed limit is necessary in such areas.
shear resistance The ability of a surfacing to resist lateral deformation due to acceleration,
braking and cornering.
sheet asphalt (overseas A mixture of bitumen and finely graded mineral matter, mixed hot and
term) spread and compacted while hot to form the wearing course of a
pavement. The mineral matter may range from a powder up to such size
as will pass through a 6.70 mm sieve.
sheet piling A system of piles (usually of special section) driven into the ground with
their edges in close contact or interlocking to provide a tight wall to
prevent leakage of water and soft materials, or driven to resist the lateral
pressure of adjacent ground.
shift 1. An alteration to the previously adopted position of the centreline. 2.
The radial displacement of a circular curve from the tangent line resulting
from the introduction of a transition curve.
shifted traffic Component of traffic whose desire lines have been shifted because of
change of origin or destination.
short-term (traffic control) Description that applies when a traffic guidance scheme is required only
while work personnel are in attendance, and is generally limited to the
duration of a single work shift.
short-term station A counting station set up for a short time. The counter is then moved to
the next site to provide the widest possible sample counting within a
region. Seasonal factors are used to estimate AADT from this data.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
shoulder The portion of formed carriageway that is adjacent to the traffic lane and
flush with the surface of the pavement.
shoulder drain A drain through the shoulder to drain the subgrade.
shoulder dressing material Material used as the surface course for unsealed shoulders.
shoulder hinge point In the cross-section of a road, the point at which the side slope would
intersect with the unsealed shoulder, or in the absence of an unsealed
shoulder, the sealed shoulder.
shoving Lateral displacement of pavement structure by braking, accelerating or
turning vehicles.
shrinkage Interconnected cracks in a road which form a series of large blocks
usually with sharp corners or angles. Frequently caused by volume
change in either the base or subgrade, or occasionally the asphalt mix.
shy line The offset from the edge of a traffic lane beyond which a roadside
feature does not cause drivers to slow unnecessarily, or steer away from,
at their current travel speed.
side boards Timber placed along the edges of a pavement for protection and support.
side cut That portion of a road on sloping ground where one edge only of the
formation is in cut and the other edge is on the natural surface or on fill.
side drain A longitudinal surface drain or ditch usually U-shaped and generally
located between the surface water channel and the legal road boundary.
In some situations the side drain may run immediately adjacent to the
road pavement and collect surface water runoff from the road surface
and adjacent land.
side forms Timber or steel forms used during the laying of a pavement.
side friction 1. The retarding effect on the free flow of traffic caused by interference of
any sort at either edge of a carriageway or traffic lane, other than at an
intersection. 2. Friction force acting on a vehicle during cornering.
sideways force coefficient The ratio of resistance to sideways motion to the normal component of
(SFC) the force between the tyres of the vehicle and the pavement.
side slope The uniform side slope of walls, banks, cuttings or embankments,
expressed as a ratio of 1 vertical on x horizontal as distinct from grade.
Sideways force Coefficient A self-contained machine that provides a routine method of measuring
Routine Investigation the skid resistance of roads under wet conditions, and is capable of
Machine (SCRIM) testing one or both wheelpaths of long lengths of road at a specified
speed.
sieve A box or tray whose base is made of woven wire or similar material or of
perforated metal plate, having apertures of defined shapes and sizes.
sight board A timber or metal board (usually reflective or painted white) placed to
highlight a change in road direction or some other hazard (see chevron
board and target board).
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
sight distance The distance, measured along the road over which visibility occurs
between a driver and an object or between two drivers at specific heights
above the carriageway in their lane of travel. 1. Approach sight
distance (ASD) The distance required for a driver to perceive marking or
hazards on the road surface approaching an intersection and to stop. 2.
Car stopping distance (CSD) The distance required for a car driver to
perceive a hazard, react and brake to a stop. For design purposes, wet
weather conditions and locked wheel braking are assumed. 3. Entering
sight distance (ESD) The sight distance required for minor road drivers
to enter a major road via a left or right turn, such that traffic on the road is
unimpeded. 4. Manoeuvre sight distance (MSD) The distance required
for an alert car driver to perceive an object on the road and to take
evasive action. 5. Minimum gap sight distance (MGSD) The minimum
sight distance based on the gap necessary to perform a particular
movement. 6. Overtaking sight distance (OSD) The sight distance
required for a driver to initiate and safely complete an overtaking
manoeuvre. 7. Railway crossing sight triangle The clear area required
for a truck driver to perceive a train approaching an uncontrolled railway
crossing and to stop the truck. 8. Safe intersection sight distance
(SISD) The distance required for a driver in a major road to observe a
vehicle entering from a side road, and to stop before colliding with it. 9.
Sight distance through underpass The distance required for a truck
driver to see beneath a bridge located across the main road, to perceive
any hazard on the road ahead, and to stop. 10. Stopping sight distance
The sight distance required by an average driver (car or truck depending

on design requirements), travelling at a given speed, to react and stop
before striking an object on the road. 11. Truck Stopping sight
distance Distance required for a truck driver to perceive a hazard, react
and brake to a stop. For design purposes, the braking of an unladen
vehicle in wet weather conditions without locking the wheels is assumed.
sight triangle The area of land between two intersecting roadways over which vehicles
on both roadways are visible to each driver.
sign see traffic sign
signal see traffic signal
signal aspect see aspect
signal controller see controller
signal coordination see coordination
signal cycle see cycle
signal display see display
signal face A set of signal aspects in a common assembly, generally in one or two
columns placed together with a target board to improve signal visibility,
facing traffic from one direction.
signal group A set of lanterns with common electrical switching such that the aspects
illuminated in each lantern are always identical.
signal group overlap see overlapping signal group
signal head The physical and optical hardware attached to one support and which
displays signal faces to one or more directions.
signal head assembly see signal head
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
signal intensity The luminous intensity of the signal aspects (see luminance and
luminous intensity).
signal lantern see lantern
signal linking see coordination
signal offsets see offsets
signal phase see phase
signal phasing Sequential arrangement of separately controlled groups of vehicle and
pedestrian movements within a signal cycle to allow all vehicle and
pedestrian movements to proceed.
signal post Post or pole used for mounting traffic signal lanterns adjacent to the
carriageway. ('Pedestal' used in Victoria).
signal range The distance over which the signal is intended to be clearly visible to
approaching traffic.
signal sequence see display sequence
signal system 1. Signal installation for the control of two or more related intersections.
2. Safety feature of transport system, which regulates the flow of traffic in
an orderly fashion.
signal timing The process of determining durations of successive intervals of green,
yellow and red displays, actuated signal control settings, as well as
offsets for coordinated signals.

signalised crossing An area of the road used by pedestrians when crossing the road with the
(pedestrians) guidance of pedestrian signals at a mid-block or intersection location,
and can be used by cyclists if bicycle signals are provided.
silt Any fine mineral material intermediate in particle size between sand and
clay. It is formed by the grinding of rocks under a glacier to form a
powder. It usually has a low plasticity.
simultaneous control The operation of a coordinated signal system to provide for the
simultaneous commencement of running intervals for a particular group.
simultaneous-offset Signal coordination where green periods in the travel direction start at the
coordination same time (zero offset). This is useful when the back of the queue at the
downstream intersection interrupts progression at closely spaced
intersections (see offset).
single axle group A group of at least two axles in which the horizontal distance between
the centre lines of the outermost axles is under 1 m.
single seal A seal coat made up of one application of binder and aggregate.
single/double seal A seal consisting of a single application of binder followed by a double
application of aggregate.
single/single seal A seal consisting of a single application of binder followed by a single
application of aggregate.
single-lane roundabout A roundabout with all entry and exit carriageways and the circulating
carriageway designed for and operated as a single lane or line of traffic.
single-size aggregate (one- An aggregate having a major proportion of particles lying between
size aggregate) narrow size limits.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
sinusoidal hump A road hump that incorporates curved transitions to minimise the impact
of grade change.
site investigation The examination of all those characteristics of a site which might affect
the planning, design, construction and operation or performance of any
engineering works on site. Note: Site investigation is not limited to
determining subsurface condition but includes consideration of other
aspects such as access, drainage, liability to flooding, availability of
public utility services and construction materials.
skeletal structure (asphalt The internal structure of an asphalt mix resulting formed by the
mix) mechanical interlock between particles arising from their shape and
disposition relative to each other.
skid limit Degree of braking at which wheel lockup commences.
skid resistance The frictional relationship between a pavement surface and vehicle tyres
during braking or cornering manoeuvres. Normally measured on wet
surfaces, it varies with the speed and the value of ‘slip’ adopted.
skid resistance value (SRV) The value obtained from the British Portable Skid Resistance Tester,
adjusted for temperature. The SRV is sometimes referred to as British
pendulum number (BPN).
skim table Matrix of zone-to-zone distances, travel times, travel costs or other
measures of impedance in a standard trip table format.
slag The by-product of smelting ore to purify metals.
slick surface A surface that has become hard, smooth and slippery.
slip A movement or fall of earth in a cut or bank.
slip lane A left turn lane separated from an adjacent lane by a triangular island.
slippage A translatory failure of an overlay through failure of a bond with the
undercourse, usually indicated by crescent-shaped cracks on the
pavement surface.
slope 1. The inclination of a surface with respect to the horizontal, expressed
as rise or fall in a certain longitudinal distance. 2. An inclined surface.
slot drain A line of slots in the pavement to allow water to drain – usually into a
piped stormwater system.
slow point An isolated narrowing of a carriageway introduced as a traffic calming
measure.
slow setting bitumen An emulsion characterised by slow breaking and with sufficient
emulsion mechanical and chemical stability for all purposes and requiring mixing
with aggregate, including those containing large portions of fines. It is
also suitable for premixing with soil for stabilisation purposes, for surface
enrichment and dust laying.
slump A measure of the consistency of freshly mixed cement concrete,
determined in accordance with standard test procedure.
slump test The standard test to measure slump.
slurry A stable suspension of aggregate and filler in a less dense, liquid
bituminous emulsion.
slurry seal A thin layer of bituminous slurry surfacing, usually without a polymer
modifier.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
slurry surfacing A general term for slurry seal and microsurfacing.
small bus A bus having an occupant capacity, including the driver, of up to 20
persons.
smooth A surface condition in which the aggregate is worn and the texture depth
is minimal.
SMVU see Survey of Motor Vehicle Usage
soak pit A large hole filled with rock or stone to create a large surface area in
surrounding ground so that surface run-off can soak away.
soffit The highest portion of the internal surface of a pipe, culvert or arch.
soil Unconsolidated material and organic material derived from weathering or
breakdown of rock and decay of vegetation. Soil materials include
organic matter, clay, silt, sand and gravel.
soil suction The negative pressure by which water is retained in the voids of a soil
sample when the sample is free from external stresses.
soundness The ability of an aggregate to withstand deterioration due to
environmental conditions.
soundness test An assessment of the soundness of a material as determined by some
specified test. The term is generally understood to refer to a particular
test for cement.
space headway see spacing

space length The following distance between two successive vehicles as measured
between the rear end of one vehicle and the front end of the next vehicle
in the same traffic lane (spacing less vehicle length).
space mean speed The average of the speeds of vehicles within a given space or section of
a roadway at a given instant, or the average speed of a specified group
of vehicles based on their average travel time over a section of roadway.
space occupancy ratio The proportion of a road section (distance) occupied by vehicles at an
instant in time.
space speeds Speed of individual vehicles on a section of road measured at a given
instant.
space time The time between the detection of two consecutive vehicles when the
presence detection zone is not occupied. It is equivalent to gap time less
the time taken to travel the effective detection zone length.
spacing The distance between the fronts of two consecutive vehicles in a traffic
stream at a given instant of time.
spalling A surface defect chiefly in concrete and occasionally in heavily bound
pavements, where disintegration occurs at edges, joints, corners or
cracks.
span 1. The distance between the centres of adjacent supports of a bridge,
beam or truss. 2. The superstructure of a bridge between two adjacent
supports.
special vehicle aspects Signal aspects for special vehicles (bus, tram, emergency vehicle)
consisting of red, yellow and white B, T and E symbols (see special
vehicle signal face).
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
special vehicle signal face A single column signal face for the control of special vehicles (bus, tram,
emergency vehicle) movements (see special vehicle aspects).
speed Distance travelled per unit time. 1. 85th percentile speed. The speed
at which 85% of car drivers will travel slower and 15% will travel faster.
operating speed of trucks The 85th percentile speed of trucks measured
at a time when traffic volumes are low. 2. Section operating speed. The
value at which vehicle speeds on a series of curves tend to stabilise are
related to the range of radii on the curves. (see operating speed, street
speed and design speed).
speed (85th percentile) The speed at or below which 85% of vehicles travel.
speed bump A vehicle speed control device in the form of a short raised section of
carriageway (see road hump).
speed camera A camera attached to a speed measuring device (either mobile or fixed).
The speed measuring device records the speed of vehicles and triggers
the camera to take photographs of vehicles travelling above the speed
limit. Some speed cameras are digital and online and can be set up to
transmit information automatically back to a central controlling office.
Other cameras are traditional wet film and require an operator to retrieve
the information from the camera. Methods of measuring speed include
the use of radar and laser guns, as well as devices which measure the
time taken between vehicle wheels passing over piezo-electric loops,
and (rarely nowadays) pneumatic tubes.
speed change lane An auxiliary lane, including tapered areas, primarily for the acceleration
or deceleration of vehicles entering or leaving the through traffic lanes.
speed environment A basic design parameter for a section of road, representing the uniform
desired speed of the 85th percentile driver. It can be measured on
existing roads as the 85th percentile of the speed distribution on the
longer straights or large radius curves over the section.
speed hump A hump constructed across a road. The profile is designed to encourage
drivers to slow their vehicles to an acceptable speed.
speed limit signs Signs displaying reduced speed limits - may be implemented on an area-
wide basis.
speed maintenance That quality of routes that permits road users to maintain their speed.
speed survey A traffic survey involving the measurement of the speed of vehicles.
speed zone A length of road subject to legally enforceable speed limits.
speed-change lane A subdivision of auxiliary lanes, which covers those lanes used primarily
for the acceleration or deceleration of vehicles. It is usual to refer to the
lane by its purpose (e.g. deceleration lane).
splay see corner cut-off
split-approach phasing The signal phasing arrangement that allocates separate phases to
opposing approaches, allowing the through and all turning movements
from each approach to operate simultaneously.
split cycle offset An adaptive system that responds automatically to fluctuations in traffic
optimisation technique flow through the use of on-street detectors embedded in the road.
(SCOOT) SCOOT was developed by TRL Limited, in collaboration with UK traffic
systems suppliers.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
split-diamond interchange The combination of two half-diamond interchanges of opposite direction
serving two closely spaced surface roads, such that the movements
available to turning traffic are substantially similar to those provided at a
full-diamond interchange.
splitter island A short median island on approach to a roundabout, intersection or
junction.
spot speed Speed of individual vehicles as they pass a given point on the road.
sprayed seal (chip seal) A thin layer of binder sprayed onto a pavement surface with a layer of
aggregate incorporated and which is impervious to water.
sprayed surfacing A thin layer of aggregate and bituminous binder which as the uppermost
pavement layer is directly subjected to the forces of vehicular traffic.
spraying (NZ) Use of chemicals and water to control vegetation.
spreadability test A test used to measure the consistency of very fluid concrete mixes.
spreader box (slurry A device capable of producing a uniform bituminous slurry surface and
surfacing) equipped with either a flexible or rigid rear strike-off screed.
sprung mass Rigid body having equal mass, the same centre of gravity and the same
moments of inertia about identical axes as the total sprung weight.
square trip table Matrix of zone-to-zone trips showing trips by direction between each pair
of zones (see triangular trip table).
squeeze point A narrowing of the road that may be hazardous for road users such as
cyclists who are forced to move nearer to or into an adjacent stream of
traffic.
stabilisation The treatment of a road pavement or subgrade material by the
introduction of a binder to improve it or to correct a known deficiency and
thus enhance its ability to perform its function in the pavement. It can be
conducted mechanically or through the use of chemicals.
stabilisation (soil) Providing adequate measures (vegetative and/or structural) to prevent
erosion from occurring.
stabilised material Any material which has been stabilised.
stabilised soil A material which has been modified to improve or maintain its load
carrying capacity. Mechanical stabilisation is carried out by the addition
of other natural materials such as sand, loam or clay or by blending in
binders such as cement, lime, and bitumen.
stabiliser A specialist machine that uniformly mixes the pavement or subgrade
material with binders without the material being taken from the site.
stability (bitumen mixes, The ability to resist deformation under load.
asphalt)
stability (emulsion) The resistance to separation of the dispersed bitumen phase from the
bitumen emulsion.
stability (Marshall) The maximum load that can be applied to an asphalt mix when
compacted and tested under specified conditions for the Marshall test.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
stage construction 1. A construction sequence in which a road is initially constructed to an
operational or structural standard lower than its ultimate standard, and is
subsequently upgraded to the ultimate standard. 2. Construction
affecting an existing road in which work is carried out in a number of well
defined stages aimed at minimising disruption to traffic.
staged signalised crossing A system by which a long signalised crossing is divided or ‘staged’ into
several time-separated sections, each being a separate group controlled
by individual signals.
staggered T intersection An intersection in which the carriageway of one road is offset so as not to
be continuous across the other road.
staggered work hours see work hours
stairway wheeling ramp A stairway with a ramp beside it, preferably with a channel, along which a
bicycle can roll.
standard axle (standard Single axle with dual wheels loaded to a total mass of 8.2 tonne (80 kN).
axle load)
standard compaction The relationship between the moisture content and the dry density of a
soil compacted with a 2.7 kg rammer dropping 300 mm over three layers.
start loss Duration of the interval between the start of the displayed green period
and the start of the effective green period for a movement. This is used
in signal timing and performance analysis to allow for queue discharge

time losses at the start of the green period due to vehicles accelerating to
saturation speed, or due to giving way to opposing vehicle or pedestrian
movements. Late start time can be treated as a start loss for the
movement that starts after the late start interval (see end gain).
startability The ability of a heavy vehicle to commence forward motion on a
specified upgrade.
starting display see starting signal
starting signal A signal which is located so that the drivers who have stopped at the
stop line can see the signal display.
starting-offset coordination Coordination of the start times of green periods using a signal offset that
equals the average uninterrupted travel time in the travel direction so as
to minimise stops along the route (see offset).
static capacity see parking capacity
static roller A roller using only its mass to compact the pavement.
static rollover threshold The basic measure of rollover stability. High values imply better
resistance to vehicle rollover.
station 1. Location at which traffic survey data is collected. 2. Public transport
passenger facility for boarding and alighting from vehicles.
statistical inference Describing characteristics of a population based on analysis of a
representative sample.
statistical zone see zone
steel roller (drum roller) A roller with steel wheels – may be static or vibrating.
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Term Definition
steer-tyre friction demand The maximum friction level demanded of the steer tyres of the hauling
unit in a prescribed 90º low speed turn.
stemming The filling material used in a drill hole either between the explosive
charges or between the explosive charges and the ground surface.
step 1. Abrupt rise or difference in levels in the bicycle riding surface.
2. To form a ledge or bench.
stiffening The hardening of a bituminous material by cooling or by evaporation of
the volatiles.
stiffness The relationship between stress and strain as a function of time of
loading and temperature.
stiffness (elastometer test) The stiffness of a material, expressed as the ratio of the shear stress
over the shear strain. See modulus of elasticity.
stochastic assignment see probabilistic assignment
stock subway A structure constructed to permit the passage of stock beneath a road.
stockpile A heap or stack of aggregate held in stock for future use.
stone mastic asphalt (SMA) A gap-graded wearing course mix with a high proportion of coarse
aggregate, which interlocks to form a skeletal structure to resist
permanent deformation. It has a high binder content.
stop line A single continuous line (double continuous lines in New Zealand, known
as limit line) marked across all or part of a road, behind which vehicles
should stand when required to stop by traffic light signals or regulatory
signs (see give-way line).
stopped interval The period of a traffic signal cycle during which a movement is not
permitted to run, and which is indicated by the display of a steady red
aspect.
stopped time The time spent stationary on a journey as a result of situations over
which the driver has no control.
stopping display see stopping signal
stopping distance The distance travelled by a vehicle from the point where the driver
perceives a need to stop to the point where the vehicle comes to rest.
Usually the minimum distance is implied.
stopping sight distance see stopping distance
stopping signal A signal which is used to enable the approaching driver to make a
decision either to stop safely in front of the stop line or proceed into the
intersection.
storage 1. In relation to bicycle route facilities, refers to the space used by
cyclists to wait (or 'store') so as to enhance safety. 2. In relation to
bicycle parking, the terms storage or parking are similar.
storage bins (asphalt) Specially constructed silos for the storage of asphalt. They may be
designed for either short term or long term holding of material.
storage lane An auxiliary lane, usually at intersections, primarily for use by vehicles
waiting to turn or cross.
stored value card (SVC) Often used in applications such as paid parking. A stored value card is
required to be in the ‘black’ in order for it to be functional.
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Term Definition
straight edge A straight metal box section with a defined length that is laid across
pavement ruts.
straight-run bitumen A bitumen obtained after the final stage of distillation of petroleum
without further treatment or blending.
strain alleviating membrane A sprayed seal with the binder containing a relatively large concentration
(SAM) of rubber or polymer modifier. It is used to absorb strains that occur in a
road pavement and thereby reduce reflection cracking.
strain alleviating membrane Similar to a SAM, but provided as an interlayer before placing an asphalt
interlayer (SAMI) overlay.
strategic bicycle route A route which experiences the highest level of use by cyclists, or has the
potential to do so with the implementation of a route or route network, or
a route defined by a strategic or local bicycle plan. Includes principal
bicycle network routes, and arterial and collector roads.
street A road that has mainly continuous housing or buildings on one side or
both. It provides access to houses, buildings, shops, etc. with frontages
onto the street. A street, by definition, is therefore found only in an urban
area.
street light Lamps that are generally erected on poles along a street to illuminate the
immediate area.
street speed The highest mean, 85th or any other percentile speed actually observed
along the street (or street section).
streetscaping Aesthetic changes to the street which do not have the primary purpose of
directly impacting on vehicle speeds.
strength The ability of a material to withstand rupture or cracking from applied
loads.
stripping (pavement) The loss of aggregate from a pavement layer or surfacing, caused by the
action of traffic, usually in the presence of water.
structural capacity A descriptive term indicating the capacity of a pavement to carry traffic
before the onset of structural failure or before the pavement deteriorates
to a defined terminal condition.
Structural Number (SN) A pavement strength parameter, developed during the AASHO Road
Test. SN describes the structural capacity of a pavement in a single
number, regardless of the details of the materials in the pavement. SN is
related to the change in cumulative traffic loading and functional
condition of the pavement.
sub-arterial road Road connecting arterial roads to areas of development, and carrying
traffic directly from one part of a region to another.
subbase The material laid on the subgrade below the base either for the purpose
of making up additional pavement thickness required, to prevent intrusion
of the subgrade into the base, or to provide a working platform.
sub-dominant stream The traffic stream(s) or lane(s) at a multi-lane entry to a roundabout
which has less flow than that of the 'dominant' lane at that entry. (i.e. any
or all lanes other than the 'dominant' lane).
subgrade The trimmed or prepared portion of the formation on which the pavement
is constructed. Generally taken to relate to the upper line of the
formation.
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Term Definition
subgrade design strength The California Bearing Ratio (CBR) ascribed to the subgrade for the
purpose of predicting the behaviour of a superimposed pavement. It is
assigned after considering the significance of all layers in the formation.
subgrade drain A sub-soil drain to drain water from the subgrade.
subgrade surface The surface of the formation, excluding batter slopes, upon which the
carriageway is constructed.
subsidence A downward movement resulting from displacement of the underlying
material.
subsoil drain (subsurface A drain below the ground surface, the lower portion, or all of which
drain) collects subsurface water throughout its length.
sub-soil water Free water lying below the watertable and able to move under gravity.
substructure In a bridge, the piers and abutments (including wing walls) which support
the superstructure.
subway A structure constructed to permit the passage of pedestrians, cycles or
stock beneath the road or railway or vehicles beneath the railway.
summit curve A convex vertical curve in a longitudinal profile of the road.
sump 1. A concrete pit at the end of a water channel to settle out solids before
the flow enters a pipe drain. Also known as catch pit and mud tank. 2. A
hole or depression into which water is drained.
sun phantom The internal reflection of light from external sources (especially the sun)
onto the lens of a signal lantern which makes it appear to be internally
illuminated.
superelevation A slope on a curved pavement selected so as to enhance forces
assisting a vehicle to maintain a circular path.
superelevation The length over which the crossfalls on a carriageway are gradually
development length changed from normal crossfall to full superelevation crossfall.
superelevation runoff That part of superelevation development that goes from flat crossfall to
full superelevation crossfall (on the outside of the curve, when there are
segments rotating either side of the axis of rotation).
superstructure That part of a bridge structure which is supported by the piers and
abutments.
supplementary signal Any traffic signal showing the same aspect as the primary signal,
oriented towards the same traffic but which is not separately classified as
primary, secondary or tertiary.
suppressed traffic Reduction in traffic volume resulting from a change in traffic
arrangements.
surface (asphalt) The surface of an existing asphalt pavement is planed, milled or heated
in place. In the latter case, the pavement may be scarified, remixed,
re-laid and rolled. Additionally: bitumens, softening agents, aggregates
or combinations of these may be added to obtain desirable mixture and
surface characteristics. The finished product may be used as the final
surface.
surface box A box which provides access to services buried in a pavement or berm.
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Term Definition
surface enrichment A light application of bituminous binder, without aggregate. It is used to
increase the binder content, and extend the life, of a bituminous road
surfacing.
surface profile A two-dimensional representation of the pavement surface shape
measured normal to the surface plane and recorded spatially at equal
intervals along the direction of traffic flow.
surface rejuvenation A light application of an emulsified fraction of a bituminous binder. It is
used to extend the life of a bituminous road surfacing.
surface texture A condition parameter to characterise the average height between peaks
and troughs in the pavement surface. Macrotexture depth is usually the
reported condition parameter for surface texture.
surface texture deficiency A general term for defects manifested by reductions in macrotexture and
microtexture, loss of surfacing materials, flushing, polishing, ravelling,
stripping and delamination.
surface water channel A channel (usually vee-shaped and approximately 2 m wide) running
adjacent to the shoulder or feather edge. The channel takes run-off from
the road and prevents ground water from entering the pavement layers.
surfacing (wearing surface) That part of the pavement or bridge deck specifically designed to resist
abrasion from traffic and to minimise the entry of water.
surge bins Silos attached to an asphalt mixing plant to hold aggregate or mix for a
short time only and to even out plant output.
surrounding road network The part of the road network that extends outwards beyond the parking
facility in all directions.
survey Work performed to record features that describe part of the earth’s
surface and present the information as a plan.
Survey of Motor Vehicle A statistical product from ABS.
Usage (SMVU)
survey reference Relates a particular survey measurement to a specific survey.
survey station see census station
survey zone Subdivision of the study area which is used during the data collection
phase of the study.
suspension 1. A system of springs, shock absorbers and linkages that connects a
vehicle to its wheels. See also air suspension system. 2. Fine particles
which do not settle in a column of water.
SVC see stored value card
swale An open vegetated drainage channel or shallow troughlike depression
designed to carry, detain, partly treat and promote the filtration of
stormwater runoff.
sweeping The removal of loose material from a pavement by means of a broom.
sweepings Material removed by sweeping; usually refers to chips.
swept path The area bounded by lines traced by the extremities of the bodywork of a
vehicle while turning.
swept width The radial distance between the innermost and outermost turning paths
of a vehicle.
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Term Definition
Sydney Coordinated A well-known fully-adaptive wide area control system developed in
Adaptive Traffic System Australia and used in many cities around the world.
(SCATS)
symbolic mask A mask used to create a symbol (e.g. arrow, pedestrian or bicycle) or
letter (e.g. B or T) to dedicate the aspect to a particular vehicle
movement (e.g. turning traffic) or a special vehicle movement (e.g. bus,
tram) (see arrow mask).
synchronous linking see cableless linking
T
T junction A junction in which one road terminates approximately at right angles to
a through-road (see T-intersection).
table drain A longitudinal drain, parallel to the road, which conveys runoff from the
road to offlet drains. It is an alternative to a kerb and channel system in
a residential street.
tack coat A light application of a bituminous material without cover aggregate, to a
prepared base as a preliminary treatment to promote surface adhesion,
without penetration of the pavement surface.
tactile linework This is the same as tactile edge lines or tactile line markings. These are
lines that give a rumbling effect when driven upon (through vehicle
vibration). Sometimes they are referred to as audio-tactile lines or
linework as they also provide a humming noise. These types of line

marking are designed to gain driver alertness should the vehicle drift off
the road.
tactile treatments Low bumps, buttons, bars, grooves or strips closely spaced across or
immediately adjacent to a street or path that draw attention to a feature
or hazard, and can have a vibratory and/or audible effect when travelled
over.
tail swing The maximum lateral distance that the outer rearmost point on a vehicle
unit moves outwards, perpendicular to its initial and final orientation,
when the vehicle commences and completes a small-radius turn at low
speed.
tamp To compact a loose material by repeated blows.
tamper A device for tamping. Specific versions are known as hand tamper (a rod
with a square or circular foot), air tamper (driven by compressed air) and
automotive tamper (informally called a wacker).
tandem axle group An axle group of at least two axles, in which the horizontal distance
between the centrelines of the outermost axles is at least 1.0 m, but not
more than 2.0 m.
tangent point The point on the centreline where straight and curve meet tangentially.
tangent runout The length of roadway required to accomplish the change in crossfall
from a normal crown section to a flat crossfall at the same rate as the
superelevation runoff.
taper Shape of merge or diverge.
tare mass see unloaded mass
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Term Definition
target board The panel attached to a signal face to improve its visibility by reducing
background luminance.
temperature susceptibility A high temperature susceptibility indicates a large change in viscosity
with temperature. Normally a low change (low temperature susceptibility)
is desirable at service temperatures.
temporary diversion A signed route to avoid temporary obstruction, road closure, etc.
temporary hazard warning A range of signs used to indicate temporary conditions that require
signs caution or special action, and indicating the particular reason for such
caution or action.
temporary raised pavement Self-adhesive pavement markers moulded in a single piece of flexible
markers plastic or rubber, with vertical and horizontal sections, in which the
retroreflective element is protected from bitumen spray by a plastic
cover.
tender mix A mix which exhibits significant displacement during compaction.
terminal End of a transport route, regardless of whether special facilities exist for
turning vehicles, handling passengers or freight.
terminal time Variable used in the calibration of distribution models to represent the
time required to park or unpark and the addition of the time required to
start or end a trip. This variable is excluded from the network.
terminus Start or finishing point of the route of a particular service at which ticket
or route waybill forms are completed.

terrain Topography of the land. 1. Level terrain is that condition where road
sight distances, as governed by both horizontal and vertical restrictions,
are generally long or could be made to be so without construction
difficulty or major expense. 2. Undulating terrain is that condition where
road sight distance is occasionally governed by both horizontal and
vertical restrictions with some construction difficulty and major expense
but with only minor speed reduction. 3. Rolling terrain is that condition
where the natural slopes consistently rise above and fall below the road
grade and where occasional steep slopes offer some restriction to
normal horizontal and vertical roadway alignment. The steeper grades
cause trucks to reduce speed below those of cars. 4. Mountainous
terrain is that condition where longitudinal and transverse changes in the
elevation of the ground with respect to the road are abrupt and where
benching and side hill excavation are frequently required to obtain
acceptable horizontal and vertical alignment. Mountainous terrain
causes some trucks to operate at crawl speeds.
tertiary signal A traffic signal that is located on the far left side of the controlled area
(see secondary signal and primary signal).
tertiary signal face The signal face mounted on a post on the downstream side to the left of
the approach (see primary signal face, secondary signal face).
test road Controlled loading applied to a section of an in-service experimental
road.
test track Controlled linear or circular loading applied to a short section of test
pavement constructed in a pit or trough or to a test pavement
constructed off-road using normal construction procedures.
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Term Definition
texture (NZ) Irregularities in the pavement surface classified into three groups by their
size.
texture depth 1. The average height of aggregate and sand particles above the binder
in an asphalt surfacing. 2. The average height of aggregate particles
above the binder in a sprayed seal.
theoretical capacity The maximum number of vehicles that can pass a given point on a lane
or carriageway during one hour under the prevailing carriageway and
traffic conditions, regardless of their effect in delaying drivers and
restricting their freedom to manoeuvre.
thermoplastic road Roadmarking where the material, which consists of binder, pigment,
markers/marking aggregate, glass beads and extenders, is applied to the road in a heat-
softened state, which then hardens on cooling.
thin layer hot mixed A thin asphalt wearing course with relatively high voids, usually laid on a
bituminous friction course heavy application of polymer modified bituminous emulsion.
three-centred curve A compound curve consisting of three successive circular arcs.
threshold treatment A treatment of an intersection to discourage through or heavy traffic.
through (traffic control) A work area with traffic over the area being worked on.
through by-passable traffic Term normally used to refer to short distance traffic that can be diverted
without significant time or distance penalties.
through car units A measure used in signal design calculation involving the conversion of
each unit of turning traffic and truck or bus traffic into its equivalent in
terms of through passenger cars, and the summation of these together
with actual through passenger cars for an approach.
through lane A lane provided for the use of vehicles proceeding straight ahead.
through phasing Phasing that allows through and left turn movements and filter right turns
from opposing approaches to operate in the same phase using the three-
aspect circular (red, yellow, green) signal faces.
through traffic Traffic with neither an origin nor a destination within the local area.
Depending on the definition of the local area, this may not be traffic
which diverts between two arterials.
through trip Trip that starts and ends outside the study area, but that passes through
the study area.
tidal flow A means of increasing capacity under conditions of high traffic volume
and marked directional split by means of reversible lanes or
carriageways.
tied shoulder A concrete shoulder made of the same concrete and the same thickness
as the base pavement. It is formed, debonded and nominally tied to the
base pavement. It is a minimum of 1.4 m wide.
time mean speed see average spot speed
time occupancy ratio The proportion of time in a given period when the passage or occupancy
detector at a point along the road is occupied by vehicles.
time of concentration The shortest time necessary for all points on a catchment area to
contribute simultaneously to run-off at a specified point.
time of operation The clock time within a day, the days of the week or other calendar times
during which a sign applies.
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Term Definition
time-distance diagram A graphical representation of the movement of a vehicle or traffic stream
in terms of its time and distance coordinates, e.g. used to show signal
coordination along a route or for showing vehicles queuing at traffic
signals.
timing plan A plan that defines the cycle time, green splits and offsets for each
intersection in a coordinated signal system.
T-intersection An intersection in which one road terminates approximately at right
angles to a through road, e.g. an intersection shaped like a ‘T’.
title alignment see property line
TMAP see transport management and accessibility plan
toe 1. The part of the base of a retaining wall which is on the side remote
from the retained material. 2. Also the tip of a pile and the base of an
earthen slope.
toe drain An interceptor drain constructed along the bottom of a batter to collect
batter run-off.
toe wall A low retaining wall constructed at the foot of an earth slope.
tolerable deflection The maximum acceptable deflection under a specified load which a given
pavement may exhibit if the pavement is to achieve a specified number
of load repetitions satisfactorily.
toll Fee or charge for the use of a road or bridge.
toll road A road, bridge or tunnel available to traffic only upon payment of a toll or
fee.
tollway A freeway, for the use of which a toll has to be paid.
top course (surface course) A pavement layer constructed on top of the basecourse layer. This layer
is constructed of material with a smaller top size than the basecourse
layer.
toppings Fine material from rock crushing, usually including dust passing a 4.75
mm sieve.
total travel time (TTT) Sum of travel times on all the road segments on a route.
town planning Management of changes in the urban environment through guidelines
and regulations.
track width Transverse dimension at the road between the centrelines of the tyres for
an axle with two tyres, or that transverse dimension at the road between
the midpoints of dual wheel assemblies.
tracking ability on a straight The total swept width while travelling on a straight path, including the
path influence of variations due to road crossfall, road surface unevenness
and driver steering activity.
traffic A generic term covering all vehicles, people, and animals using a road.
traffic assignment Process of allocating trips onto existing or planned routes available on
the road or public transport network. Assignment may be based on one
or more factors known to influence route selection, e.g. travel time,
distance, cost.
traffic assignment zone Subdivision of the study area represented by a centroid.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
traffic calming In general, the reduction of the motor vehicle’s intrusion into and impacts
upon urban life, by moderating the quantity, speed or other
characteristics of vehicular traffic; commonly and more specifically (when
in relation to local streets) analogous to LATM.
traffic census see traffic count
traffic composition The proportions (usually expressed as a percentage) of the different
types of vehicles within the total traffic flow.
traffic control device Any traffic sign, road marking, traffic signal, or other device, placed or
erected under public authority for the purpose of regulating, directing,
warning or guiding traffic.
traffic control person see flagperson
traffic control plan (TCP) A diagram showing temporary signs and devices arranged to warn traffic
and guide it around, past or, if necessary, through a work site or
temporary hazard.
traffic control signal A device that, by means of changing coloured lights, regulates the
movement of traffic.
traffic controller see flagperson
traffic count The process of determining the number of vehicles or pedestrians
passing a given point or points during a specified period of time (see
demand flow, flow rate, traffic volume).
traffic counter A device that counts and records the number of vehicles.
traffic demand see demand
traffic density The number of vehicles, excluding parked vehicles, per unit length of
carriageway at a specified instant in time.
traffic dividers Devices used on multilane roads to keep traffic in prescribed lanes.
traffic dome A small raised circular device, used at intersections in a carriageway to
control turning traffic.
traffic engineering The measurement and study of traffic, the determination of its
characteristics, and the application of the knowledge so gained to
improving the safety, convenience and economy of road transport.
traffic flow The number of vehicles passing a given point during a specified period of
time (see traffic volume).
traffic forecast An estimate of future traffic parameters including projected growth rates.
traffic generator A development or area capable of generating traffic, e.g. shopping
complex, industrial area, car park.
traffic growth factor A factor used to estimate the percentage annual increase in traffic
volume.
traffic guidance scheme An arrangement of temporary signs and devices to warn traffic and guide
it through or past a works site or temporary hazard.
traffic island A defined area, usually at an intersection, from which vehicular traffic is
excluded. It is used to control vehicular movements and as a pedestrian
refuge.
traffic lane A portion of the carriageway allocated for the use of a single line of
vehicles.
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Term Definition
traffic management The use of traffic engineering techniques to control the flow of traffic.
traffic median barrier A device used on multilane roads to keep opposing traffic in prescribed
carriageways.
traffic or vehicle actuated A control method that allows a variable sequence and variable duration
control of signal displays depending on vehicle and pedestrian traffic demands.
traffic patterns The variation of traffic volumes over a period of time.
traffic planning Making provision for future traffic and parking conditions.
traffic platoon bunch A closely spaced group of vehicles on a carriageway, moving, or stopped
and ready to move, with relatively large spaces ahead and behind.
traffic regulations Statutory rules in relation to driving and/or vehicular requirements,
enforceable by law.
traffic restraints Procedure or quantitative term indicating an imposed limitation on the
volume of motor vehicle traffic.
traffic separators see traffic dividers
traffic sign A board, plate, screen, or another device, whether or not illuminated,
displaying words, figures, symbols or anything else to regulate, direct or
warn road users (but does not include traffic signals).
traffic signal A signal that controls vehicle and pedestrian traffic at an intersection or
on a road by means of red, yellow, green or white light displays, and
includes circular and arrow signals, pedestrian signals, bicycle crossing

signals, B (bus) and T (tram) signals, overhead lane control signals, and
twin red or yellow signals.
traffic signal controller An automatic device that regulates the sequence and duration of the
illumination of aspects.
traffic statistic Information related to traffic, e.g. traffic volumes, traffic accidents,
origin/destination data, vehicle occupancy data.
traffic stream Traffic, usually vehicular, moving in one or more lines in the same
direction.
traffic survey The measurement and study of some aspect of traffic movement.
traffic tally A small mechanical hand-held device used as an aid in traffic counting.
traffic time The time between laying a bituminous surfacing and when slow moving
traffic (< 40 km/h) can be allowed onto the surface without permanent
damage.
traffic volume The number of vehicles or pedestrians passing a given point on a lane or
carriageway during a specified period of time (see demand flow, flow
rate, traffic count).
traffic zone see zone
traffic-actuated control A control method that allows a variable sequence and variable duration
of signal displays depending on vehicle and pedestrian traffic demands.
All vehicle movements (phases) are actuated in 'fully-actuated control' in
contrast with 'semi-actuated control' where only minor vehicle
movements (e.g. side road traffic) are actuated.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
traffic-actuated controller A traffic signal controller in which the sequence of aspects and the
duration of intervals vary in accordance with the demands of vehicles
and pedestrian traffic as registered by detectors (see vehicle-actuated
traffic signals).
traffic-actuated signal A traffic signal in which the changes of aspect are initiated by vehicular
or pedestrian traffic detected approaching the controlled area.
traffic-responsive plan A signal coordination method that introduces predetermined plans by
selection means of algorithms that respond to changing traffic conditions using
data collected from detectors.
trailer A vehicle that is built to be towed, or is towed, by a motor vehicle, but
does not include a motor vehicle that is being towed.
trailing right turn see lagging right turn
trajectory diagram Graph showing the movement of a vehicle (or vehicles) along a length of
road over a given period.
transit The act or fact of passing across or through; passage from one place to
another.
transit captive see public transport captive
transit lane A traffic lane set aside for the use of buses, motorcycles, taxis, turning
vehicles and vehicles carrying a specified minimum number of
occupants.
transit network see public transport network

transit nodes see public transport nodes
transition Transition length for increasing or decreasing the number of lanes.
transition curve A curve of varying radius used to model the path of a vehicle as it enters
or leaves a curve of constant radius used for the purpose of easing the
change in direction.
transition length for The distance within which the alignment is changed in approach from
alignment straight to a horizontal curve of constant radius.
transition length for crossfall The distance required rotating the pavement crossfall from normal to that
appropriate to the curve. Also called superelevation development length.
transition length for The distance over which the pavement width is changed from normal to
widening that appropriate to the curve.
transponder A device fitted to a bus, tram or emergency vehicle that allows the signal
controller to selectively identify the presence of that vehicle in a stream of
mixed traffic.
transport corridor Land use dedicated to use by a transport mode, e.g. rail, road.
transport management and A comprehensive assessment of the transport impacts, addressing both
accessibility plan (TMAP) the movement of people and goods, of a major site development or re-
development proposal including the identification of a package of
appropriate measures that will help to manage the demand for travel.
transport planning Planning of the operations and development of transport including the
efficient and equitable allocation of resources.
transport study Analysis and synthesis of a specific transport problem. Usually involves
data collection, analysis, forecasting, evaluation and recommendation.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
transport system Sum of the interacting components that constitute a system for the
purpose of transporting passengers and/or goods.
transverse crack A crack at right angles to the road centreline.
transverse profile The shape of a pavement surface measured as vertical distances from a
datum perpendicular to traffic flow.
travel demand management Intervention (excluding provision of major infrastructure) to modify travel
decisions so that more desirable transport, social, economic and/or
environmental objectives can be achieved, and the adverse impacts of
travel can be reduced.
travel model System of mathematical relationships which can be used to estimate the
volume and distribution of travel likely to occur in a given set of
circumstances.
travel speed The representative (usually 85th percentile) speed of traffic at a site.
travel time Time required to travel between two points.
travel time ratio Travel time between points of choice by a freeway route divided by the
travel time between the same points by a non-freeway route used in a
diversion assignment.
travel time survey Survey designed to obtain data on travel times over selected traffic
routes.
travelator A mechanical device for moving pedestrians horizontally, usually in the
form of a moving footpath or 'endless belt' type arrangement.

travelled path That part of the carriageway made available to vehicles and which may
consist of one or more running lanes.
travelled way That portion of a carriageway ordinarily assigned to moving traffic, and
exclusive of shoulders and parking lanes.
traverse A survey consisting a continuous series of connected straight lines, the
lengths and bearings of which are measured. When the lines form a
complete circuit or lie between two known points it is termed a closed
traverse; otherwise it is termed an open traverse.
treated surfaces A general term referring to the surfaces of bound pavements, primer
sealed bound pavements or previously sealed pavements.
treatment A general term which covers all types of physical actions (including
devices) to manage traffic and/or adapt the street environment at the
local level.
triangular trip table Matrix of zone-to-zone trips between each pair of zones non-
directionally, normally in the low-to-high direction only (see square trip
table).
triaxial test A test to determine the stress-strain properties of a pavement material in
which a cylindrical specimen of the material is subjected to a three
dimensional stress system; the axial strain is measured for various levels
of applied stress.
triaxle group An axle group of at least three axles, in which the horizontal distance
between the centrelines of the outermost axles is more than 2.0 m, but
not more than 3.2 m.
trim To finish off earthworks accurately to the desired shape.
Austroads 2008
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Term Definition
trip 1. One-way movement from one place to another for a particular purpose
(see journey). Note: Care is required in applying this general definition.
In particular, the definition of ‘purpose’ will affect the way in which
person, vehicle or commodity movements are classified into trips. In
travel surveys, the ‘purpose’ set often includes ‘change mode’ and ‘serve
passenger’, thus making a trip correspond to a movement by only one
mode. Movements for these purposes have been varyingly termed
‘legs’, ‘segments’ or ‘unlinked trips’, in transport planning practice. For
analyses, trips are often ‘linked’, thus making a trip embrace more than
one mode and/or lower order purpose. 2. In public vehicle operations, the
movement by one vehicle or unit in one direction from the start of a route
to the end of it.
trip attraction Total number of trips made to a particular destination.
trip distribution 1. The geographical distribution of trips. 2. The process by which the total
number of trips is converted to individual zone-to-zone movements.
trip distribution model Mathematical relationship used to distribute trips between zones on the
basis of certain parameters such as spatial separation and relative
attractiveness.
trip end The unit used to express the total number of trip productions and
attractions, which can also be used in relation to trip origin or destination.
trip end summary Summary of the total number of trips entering a zone and leaving a zone.
These equal the row and column totals of a trip table.
trip factor Number of trips represented by the trip record in which the trip factor
appears. Basically it is the ratio of dwelling units to the interviewed
dwelling units or a similar ratio of vehicles. It may be modified to offset a
poor screenline check.
trip generation 1. Number of trips produced or attracted to a zone. 2. Process by which
the numbers of such trips are calculated in a model (see trip-generation
model).
trip generation model Mathematical model of trip generation based on the premise that trips
generated by a zone will be related to the land-use parameters of that
zone.
trip length frequency Histogram showing the number of trips or the percentage of trips made at
distribution various trip time or distance intervals.
trip production Total number of trips made from one origin.
trip production and The production end of a home-based trip is the home end of the trip, and
attraction the attraction end the non-residential end. Non-home-based trips are
assumed to be produced in the origin zone and attracted to the
destination zone.
Austroads 2008
— 137 —
Term Definition
trip records Survey-derived trip information and related information. The data for
each surveyed trip are recorded in one trip record (see trip).
Comprehensive surveys, depending on the degree of detail required, can
produce the following types of trip records: 1. Dwelling unit summary:
a summary of trips and related information regarding the occupants of
one dwelling unit. 2. External trip record: contains the information
describing one trip by a vehicle that has crossed the external cordon line.
3. Internal trip record: contains information describing one trip by a
resident of the survey area, and also contains certain information
regarding the person making the trip. 4. Truck trip record: contains the
information describing one trip by a truck registered or garaged in the
survey area.
truck A motor vehicle with a GVM over 4.5 tonnes, except a bus, tram or
tractor.
truck route Signposted route defined as being the most suitable for heavy transport
and aiming to exclude commercial and residential areas.
trumpet interchange An interchange at a T junction, generally providing interchange ramps for
all movements.
TTT see total travel time
turn 1. In the traffic assignment loading process, a movement from a link to
another link, which is identified by the node numbers comprising the two
links. 2. In tree building, a movement between links of different signs
(see turn penalty).

turn penalty The time added to the total travel time of a trip when a turn is made in the
network, which accounts for delays when turning (see turn).
turn prohibitor Data record, similar to a link record, that instructs the tree building
program to prohibit a particular movement at an intersection.
turning circle The diameter of the circle traced by the outside edge of the outermost
front wheel of a vehicle turning on full lock, equivalent to twice the turning
radius of the design vehicle.
turning lane 1. An auxiliary lane reserved for turning traffic. 2. A storage and/or speed
change lane reserved for turning traffic.
turning markings Pavement markings provided to control or guide turning traffic at
intersections and junctions.
turning movement The number of vehicles observed to make a particular turning movement
(left or right turn, or through movement) at an intersection over a
specified period.
turning movement count A traffic count at an intersection during which all turning movements are
recorded.
turning path The path of a designated point on a vehicle making a specified turn.
turning path diagram A scale diagram showing the path of both the outside of the outermost
wheel of a vehicle making a turn of specified angle and specified radius
measured to the outermost wheel.
turntable Rotating device normally used as part of a trailer or between a semi-
trailer and towing vehicle with the semi-trailer not readily detachable from
the towing vehicle. It includes the upper and lower rotating elements.
Austroads 2008
— 138 —
Term Definition
twelve hour volume The 12-hour volume on a road is the number of vehicles passing an
observation point over a given 12-hour interval during a day.
twin steer axle group A group of two axles with single tyres fitted to a motor vehicle and
connected to the same steering mechanism; the horizontal distance
between the centrelines is at least 1 m, but not more than 2 m.
two-way carriageway A carriageway having running lanes allotted for use by traffic in opposing
directions.
typical cross-section A cross-section of a carriageway showing typical dimensional details,
furniture locations and features of the pavement construction.
tyre mass The mass transmitted to the road by a tyre.
U
U turn A turn made on the carriageway usually without reversing the vehicle
resulting in reversal of direction of travel.
ultra thin asphalt Asphalt mixes particularly developed for placing in thin layers (<25 mm).
unbound base A base comprised of granular or mechanically stabilised materials and
without the capacity to resist significant tensile stresses.
unconfined compressive The compressive strength of laboratory specimens at 28 days.
strength (UCS)
undercroft parking The parking space below the lowest floor of the building, which is
elevated and usually open on one or more sides.

underpass 1. A grade separation where the subject carriageway passes under an
intersecting carriageway or railway (see grade separation and overpass).
2. A tunnel constructed for the use of pedestrians, cyclists and/or stock.
underpinning The support of a structure from underneath during repairs or
strengthening operations.
undivided road A road without a median (see divided road).
unified soil classification Classification of soil on the basis of its texture and liquid limit. The
(USC) system comprises 15 soil groups, each identified by a two-letter symbol,
the first symbol representing the type of soil and the second symbol
indicating the plasticity of the soil.
uninterrupted flow Condition of traffic flow on a road in which there are no factors external to
the traffic stream which affect its flow.
unlinked trip Journey, or part of a journey, for a single purpose, using only one mode
of travel.
unloaded mass The mass of a vehicle in running order, equipped with all standard
equipment and with all fuel and other fluid reservoirs filled to nominal
capacity, but unoccupied and without any other load. This term is now
used if preference to ‘tare mass’.
unopposed turn A left turn or right turn movement at a signalised intersection that is made
with no opposing or conflicting vehicular or pedestrian flow allowed.
unsealed shoulder That portion of the carriageway, located between the edge of seal and
the shoulder hinge point, having a slope generally no steeper than 12:1,
except on curves where the superelevation may increase the slope.
Austroads 2008
— 139 —
Term Definition
unsprung mass That portion of a vehicle which is not isolated from the track by the
secondary suspension system.
upside down pavement A pavement in which a stronger layer underlies a weaker layer; for
example, a cement-stabilised subbase overlain by an unstabilised
granular base.
upstream The direction along a carriageway from which the vehicle flow under
consideration has come.
urban arterial road A road that provides the main basis for public and private movements of
persons and goods in urban areas (see arterial road).
urban traffic control system see wide area control system
utilities see services
utility of travel Measure of ‘satisfaction’ as perceived by the transport user, which is
used in economic analyses and in modelling to measure benefits that
people perceive from a transportation system.
utility services Services such as gas, water, electricity, telephone, sewer and
stormwater.
V
V see approach speed
V/L/D A measure of the volume of traffic, expressed as vehicles per lane, per
day.
V85 (85th percentile speed) The speed at or below which 85% of vehicles are observed to travel
under free flowing conditions past a nominated point.
VA see vehicle actuated
validation Confirmation, through the provision of objective evidence, that
requirements for a specific intended use or application have been
fulfilled.
validation test A standardised procedure to test the validity of test results from a
measuring device.
valuation of assets The process of attributing a cost to an asset, for the purpose of
recognising the asset in the corporate financial statements.
value management A structured, analytical process to assist in project evaluation at the
concept and design stages, by carefully defining project objectives,
considering a range of alternative options for achieving the essential
objectives, and relating achievement to cost, so that the investment
returns are maximised.
van pooling Pre-arranged ride-sharing of a vehicle trip for the purpose of commuting
to a common place of employment. The vehicle is usually provided by
the employer (see car-pooling).
variable message sign Variable message signs can be changed to display information
(VMS) messages to alert drivers of on-road incidences on the road ahead. They
are also used to warn road users about weather conditions and other
important information.
variable speed limit (VSL) Variable speed limits are speed limits that change based on road, traffic,
and weather conditions. They are usually illuminated using LEDs.
Austroads 2008
— 140 —
Term Definition
variable speed limit sign Electronic display speed signs that can be varied as conditions change.
(VSLS)
vehicle activated sign (VAS) Vehicle activated signs are typically roadside digital signs that display a
message when they are approached by a motorist exceeding the speed
limit or going too fast for the type of road, especially when there is a
hazard, e.g. a bend or intersection.
vehicle actuated (VA) Responsive to, and actuated by, information collected by vehicle
detectors.
vehicle availability 1. Whether or not a person has a vehicle available for a particular trip. 2.
Number of vehicles normally available for use by members of a
household, including government or company cars. 3. Percentage of
time for which a scheduled vehicle is available for use to carry
passengers or commodities.
vehicle combination Combination of a motor vehicle and one or more trailers.
vehicle controller This term is used frequently in crash databases to refer to a person
operating a motorised vehicle such as a car, truck, motorcycle, or train
etc. but can also refer to persons operating or 'controlling' non-motorised
vehicles such as bicycles and horses. The term 'vehicle controller' has
also been used to refer to automated or 'intelligent' vehicle controllers:
computerised systems which, depending on the complexity of the
software, can be programmed to follow a set route to a destination, or
use navigation software to find and follow a route to a destination,
respond to various hazards in the path and seek alternative routes to the
destination if their originally chosen route is impassable.
vehicle crossing A formed area where vehicles can cross over channel and footpath.
vehicle extension period The period in traffic-actuated signals during which a continued traffic
demand can retain the green aspect after a demand for another phase
has been registered with the controller and after the initial running period
has been exhausted.
vehicle hours of travel Total vehicle hours of travel over a road segment or number of road
(VHT) segments for a certain period, usually a specified year.
vehicle identification A number, of 17 characters, permanently attached to the vehicle, which
number (VIN) uniquely identifies that vehicle. This number has to be quoted on the
compliance plate.
vehicle impoundment Confiscation, usually by police, of a vehicle in response to illegal
behaviour with regards to the vehicle on the part of the vehicle controller
or owner. In addition to any police or court imposed fines, the owner may
be required to pay a fee for the cost of towing and storing their vehicle in
order to have it released.
vehicle kilometres of travel A measure of traffic demand and is the length of a section of road in
(VKT) kilometres multiplied by the AADT on it. The yearly VKT is the daily VKT
multiplied by the number of days in that year (365 or 366 days).
Vehicle Movement Code A New Zealand term for accident-type.
(VMC)
vehicle passage time The time between the passage of the front and back ends of a vehicle
from a given point along the road.
Austroads 2008
— 141 —
Term Definition
vehicle type Classification of vehicles by type, e.g. car, station wagon, utility, light
commercial vehicle, and the like, and/or by number of axles.
vehicle-actuated control see traffic-actuated control
vehicle-actuated traffic Traffic signals in which the phasing varies in accordance with the
signals detected presence of vehicles on the signal approaches (see traffic-
actuated controller).
vehicles per day (VPD) The number of vehicles observed passing a point on a road in both
directions for 24 hours.
vehicles per lane per day see V/L/D
vehicle-to-vehicle Data communications between individual vehicles in a traffic stream.
verge (Aust.) That portion of the formation not covered by the carriageway or footpath.
verge (NZ) The edge of a road reserve between the shoulder hinge point and the
legal road boundary.
vertical alignment The longitudinal profile along the design line of a road.
vertical curve A curve (generally parabolic) in the longitudinal profile of a carriageway
to provide for a change of grade at a specified vertical acceleration.
vertical device Any treatment involving vertical displacement to influence speeds
through ride discomfort (including road humps, raised tables, short
lengths of raised paving, etc.).
vertical force The vertical load applied to a pavement.

very high friction surfacing Specialised surface treatments with very high polished stone
values. Generally applied to reduce loss of control in wet weather
crashes.
very hungry surface (seal) A surface condition in which the aggregate is proud of the surface and
the binder is approximately one third of the way up the sides of the
aggregate particles.
vesicular aggregate Aggregate with small cavities throughout the structure, e.g. pumice,
scoria, etc.
viaduct A long bridge composed of a series of spans, usually over land.
vibrating plate compactor An automotive machine which compacts by applying vibration to the
heavy metal plate on which it operates.
vibrating roller A roller using both its mass and a vibrating mechanism to compact the
pavement material.
video incident detection Monitors and processes road traffic images in real time and provides an
(VID) incident alarm as soon as it occurs. Operators are immediately alerted
and can launch the incident response process.
viscoelasticity The combined viscous and elastic response of a material to an applied
stress. This applies notably to bituminous materials, as evidenced by
their combined viscous and elastic response to an applied stress.
viscosity The internal friction in fluids due to molecular cohesion.
Austroads 2008
— 142 —
Term Definition
Vision Zero On October 9, 1997 the Road Traffic Safety Bill founded on ‘Vision Zero’
was passed by a majority in the Swedish Parliament. It represents a
paradigm shift in road traffic safety and is based on four principles: 1)
ethics - human life and health are paramount and take priority over
mobility and other objectives of the road traffic system; 2) responsibility -
providers and regulators of the road traffic system share responsibility
with users; 3) safety - road traffic systems should take account of human
fallibility and minimise both the opportunities for errors and the harm
done when they occur; and, 4) mechanisms for change - providers and
regulators must do their utmost to guarantee the safety of all citizens;
they must cooperate with road users; and all three must be ready to
change to achieve safety. ‘Vision Zero’ refers to the ultimate goal of zero
fatalities on the road.
visor An attachment to the face of a signal aspect to minimise the sun-
phantom effect and/or to reduce the possibility of a signal being seen by
traffic for which it is not intended.
visual inspection (walk-over A search for road faults carried out by inspecting the road at walking
inspection) pace.
VMC see Vehicle Movement Code
VMS see variable message sign
void content The ratio of the volume of voids to the total volume of the material,
expressed as a percentage.
void-fill seal (NZ) An emulsion seal (using grit or small chips) for filling the voids in an
existing coarse textured chip seal surface.
voids The spaces within the bulk of material not occupied by solid matter.
voids factor (voids ratio) The percentage of the seal layer thickness to be filled with binder. This
is dependent on traffic.
voids filled by binder (VFB) The difference between the voids in the mineral aggregate and the voids
content of the compacted asphalt. It is equivalent to the effective binder
content, or the total binder content less the binder absorbed by the
aggregate.
voids in mineral aggregate The inter-granular void space in a compacted specimen when the
(VMA) volume of the aggregate is calculated from the bulk density of the
aggregate.
volume Number of vehicles (or pedestrians, bicyclists etc.) passing a fixed point
on a road per unit of time.
volume of traffic see traffic volume
volumetric texture A manual method usually involving the spreading of a known mass or
measurement volume of sand or glass beads, of a specific grade over the pavement
surface. By dividing the volume of material by the area covered a value
is obtained which represents the average depth of the layer.
VPD see vehicles per day
VSL see variable speed limit
VSLS see variable speed limit sign
V-V see vehicle-to-vehicle
Austroads 2008
— 143 —
Term Definition
W
Wacker Packer A hand-operated vibratory machine used to compact small areas, e.g.
test holes or pothole repairs.
wait time Time spent waiting for a public transport vehicle.
walk time Duration of the Walk display (steady green person) for pedestrians.
Walking Profiler A commercial name for a profilometer with proprietary technology and
international patents.
walk-over inspection A search for road faults carried out by inspecting the road at walking
pace.
warning sign A range of signs used to indicate actual or potential hazards to road
users (see permanent hazard warning and temporary hazard warning
signs).
warrant A criterion, usually numerical, used to determine whether the
construction of a traffic facility or the installation of a traffic control device
may be justified.
water content The quantity of water which can be removed from a material by heating
to 105oC until no further significant change in mass occurs, usually
expressed as a percentage of the dry mass.
water sensitive road design Natural or artificial means of the interception, treatment and removal of
road stormwater run-off to improve the water quality to current best

practice performance objectives.
water-cement ratio The ratio of the weight of water to the weights of the cement in concrete
or mortar.
watering-in The compaction of sand or quarry dust backfill by flooding with water and
using a concrete vibrator.
waterproofing The process of rendering surfaces or materials impervious to water.
watertable The natural level at which water stands in a bore-hole, well, or other
depression, under conditions of equilibrium.
waterway 1. A channel or stream. 2. The area available for water to pass through
or under a structure.
Watts profile hump A circular segment road hump with a specific profile designed to slow
vehicles traversing them.
wearing course 1. That part of pavement upon which the traffic travels. 2. That part of the
pavement specifically designed to resist abrasion from traffic and to
minimise the entry of water.
wearing surface That part of the pavement specifically designed to resist abrasion from
traffic and to minimise the entry of water.
weathered Partly decomposed or otherwise affected by exposure to weather or
water.
weaving The movement in the same general direction of vehicles within two or
more traffic streams intersecting at a small angle so that the vehicles in
one stream cross other streams gradually (see merging).
weaving area The area of a carriageway in which weaving occurs.
Austroads 2008
— 144 —
Term Definition
weaving distance The length of a carriageway in which weaving occurs.
weaving section The length of one-way carriageway, designed to accommodate weaving,
at one end of which two one-way carriageways merge and at the other
end of which they separate.
weep-hole A small hole through an abutment or retaining wall for drainage of ground
water.
weigh batcher A batching plant in which all the ingredients of a mix are weighed.
weigh-in-motion (WIM) Weigh-in-motion devices are designed to capture and record truck axle
weights and gross vehicle weights as they drive over a sensor. Unlike
older static weigh stations, WIM systems do not require trucks to stop
making them much more efficient.
weighted mean annual A temperature adjustment factor used to estimate the elastic modulus of
pavement temperature asphalt applicable to the in-service temperature conditions at the site.
(WMAPT)
well-crushed aggregate A crushed aggregate of relatively uniform shape and size.
well-graded aggregate A material containing all main sizes of particles to form a dense material
when compacted.
wetmix see wet-mixed macadam
wet-mixed macadam Basecourse consisting of graded crushed rock or slag pre-mixed with a
controlled amount of water sufficient for adequate compaction.
wettability The extent to which a solid is wetted by a liquid, measured by the force
of adhesion between the solid and liquid phases.
wetting The process of binder (or other liquid material) spreading over the
surface of an aggregate and adhering to that surface immediately on
contact. This is generally referred to as 'active adhesion'.
wheel paths That portion of the pavement that is subject to passage of and loading
from vehicle wheels during trafficking. There are two wheel paths per
trafficked lane – the ‘left wheel path’ (LWP), nearer to the verge, and the
‘right wheel path’ (RWP), nearer to the middle of the road.
wheel rut A longitudinal groove formed in a pavement by vehicle wheels.
wheelbase The distance from the centre of the vehicle’s foremost axle to the rear
overhang line.
wheelpath 1. The lateral or transverse location of the survey vehicle’s tyre within the
survey lane. 2. The portion of the pavement that is subject to passage of
and loading from vehicle wheels during trafficking. There are two wheel
paths per trafficked lane – the ‘left wheel path’ (LWP), nearer to the
verge, and the ‘right wheel path’ (RWP), nearer to the middle of the road
(because traffic in Australia and New Zealand travels on the left side of
the road).
wheel-tracker A device used to assess the rut resistance of an asphalt mix.
whip-off 1. Scattering of aggregate due to misapplication. 2. Distribution of
aggregate by traffic if the road is opened too soon after application.
Austroads 2008
— 145 —
Term Definition
whole of life costing Considers discounted time streams of agency and road user costs
typically over a time interval between 20 and 30 years depending on the
life of the pavement asset in question. Agency cost streams include
maintenance, rehabilitation and reconstruction costs. Road user costs
include both vehicle operating and travel time costs, but at this stage
exclude crash costs.
whole of life cycle cost Takes into account the road agency costs described under life cycle cost
as well as road user costs. In an ideal scenario where the road budget is
not constrained, the total cost to the community could be minimised by
optimising road agency costs and road user costs. In reality, the majority
of road agencies operate in an environment where the total of road
agency and road user costs is suboptimal.
wide area control system A signal coordination system comprising one or more centrally or
regionally located computers controlling relatively large numbers of
signals, with all signals connected to the traffic control computers, usually
by leased data lines or, in some cases, by dedicated cable systems.
wide kerbside lane A motor traffic lane free of parked cars, and of sufficient width to permit
cyclists and other motor traffic to travel along a road within a lane
generally located at the left side of a road, without significant impact on
each others’ paths. May be associated with a two-way/two-lane road or a
multilane road.
wide single tyre Single truck tyre having a specified design section width of 375 mm or
more, which is intended to perform the function of a pair of dual truck

tyres. There are two ranges of specified design width, namely, 375 mm
to 450 mm, and over 450 mm.
WIM see weigh-in-motion
windrow A shallow ridge of material formed by the action of a grader (or other)
blade during in situ cutting or mixing operations.
windscreen survey Observation and recording of land-use data from a moving vehicle.
wing wall The extension of an abutment wall as in a bridge, or of an end wall in a
culvert, used for retaining the side slopes of the earth filling.
wombat crossing A flat-topped raised area of road similar to a raised table but with the top
surface marked as a designated pedestrian crossing to give priority to
pedestrians; sometimes referred to as a marked flat-top road hump.
woonerf see shared zone
work area Area where maintenance or construction work is being done.
work hours Work schedule in which employees are required to work a certain
number of hours but can schedule those hours as they wish. Note: For
example, some employees may choose to work from 7.30 am to 3.30
pm, while others may choose to work from 9.30 am to 5.30 pm. It differs
from staggered hours in that it is the employee, not the employer, who
sets the work schedule. Flexible work hours can decrease traffic
congestion if instituted by major employers.
work site Area that includes the work area(s) and any additional length of road or
path required for advance signing, tapers, side-tracks or other areas
needed for associated purposes.
Austroads 2008
— 146 —
Term Definition
workability The ease with which the mix (usually fresh asphalt or concrete) may be
placed and compacted.
working platform A solid relatively unyielding layer, or layers, established over soft ground
to provide support for earthmoving and construction plant.
working time The duration at which the contractor has to mix a binder, compact and
trim stabilised material before the material loses its intended strength.
An unconfined compressive strength (UCS) test is used for the
establishment of working time.
Y
yaw damping coefficient The rate at which ‘sway’ or yaw oscillations decay after a short duration
steer input at the hauling unit.
yellow time Duration of the yellow display for a phase or a movement.
yellow trap see right turn trap
Y-intersection A junction in which a road joins a through road at an oblique angle.
Y-junction see Y-intersection
young driver Typically defined in road safety literature as a probationary/provisional or
fully licensed driver between the ages of 18 and 25. Young drivers are
over-represented in car crashes due to various causes including
inexperience, risky behaviour and distractions.
Z
zebra crossing A series of short wide longitudinal lines marked side-by-side across a
carriageway to indicate a location where pedestrians may cross a road
and have right-of-way over the vehicular traffic. Also requires the
regulatory sign (see pedestrian crossing).
zone Portion of the study area, delineated as such for particular land use and
traffic analysis purposes.
zoning Partitioning of a city or town by ordinance into sections reserved for
different purposes of land usage such as residences, business or
manufacturing. Note: Commonly used zoning terms are residential,
commercial, industrial, public purposes, recreational, special uses, etc.
Austroads 2008
— 147 —

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Glossary of Austroads Terms

First Published February 2008

© Austroads Inc. 2008

Glossary of Austroads Terms

Austroads Project No: TP1330

Austroads Publication No: AP-C87/08

Kieran Sharp and Peter Milne, ARRB Group

Published by Austroads Incorporated

 Roads and Traffic Authority New South Wales

 Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources Tasmania

 Australian Standards 1348-2002

Terms from the following Austroads Guide are included:

Note to second edition

2 KEY GLOSSARIES, STANDARDS, GUIDELINES AND

Cebon, D 1999, Handbook of Vehicle-Road Interaction. Swets & Zeitlinger.

National Transport Commission 2006c, Concessional Mass Limits. Bulletin, June.

New South Wales Government 1998, Acid Sulphate Soil Manual.

Standards Australia , Methods of testing soils for engineering purposes. AS1289.

Western Australia 2002, Road Traffic (Vehicle Standards) Regulations

increasing depth, to the subbase and subgrade contributions so that the

age hardening A decrease in the penetration and/or increase in viscosity of a bituminous

alcohol interlock An alcohol interlock is a small, hand-held breath-testing device fitted to a

station, toll gate.

forces but can include both electrical and pneumatic coupling of

pyroxene. Used for aggregate in pavements and concrete.

providing adequate horizontal sight distance, greater security against

holds the aggregate particles together as a coherent mass. 2. A

slippery or loose condition, or to fill excess surface voids.

boundary line see property line

the term normally refers to Portland cement.

property and passengers’ appliances, or equipment related to other than

clay A natural earthy material, formed by the natural decomposition of rocks.

cohesion The ability of a material to resist, by means of internal forces, the

condition of a pavement or road asset.

signal installations is inter-related, usually to enable platoons of vehicles

creep The slow plastic deformation of a material under stress.

temporary reduction in viscosity.

roadside for a variety of purposes.

speed, or position, to allow a manoeuvre to be carried out safely and

(D&C) a concept and requirements specified by the owner.

influenced by the road geometry and other environmental factors.

drainage layer An unstabilised, or bitumen and/or cement stabilised, open-graded

economic analysis Means of analysing investment or policy decisions by comparing the

movements to occur and prevent the build-up of stresses due to

fatty (asphalt) An asphalt containing an excess of binder or puddled-up fines.

monetary units, which involve the estimation of the monetary value of

gravel A mixture of mineral particles ranging in size from 60 mm to 2 mm.

setting path of the steer axle in a sudden evasive manoeuvre.

impermeable A material which cannot be penetrated by a fluid such as air or water.

IVSAWS see in-vehicle safety advisory and warning systems

departure carriageway adjoining a roundabout. It is generally used to

lane control system (LCS)

left turn lane see turning lane

lime mortar A mixture of cement or lime with sand and water.

lip The edge of a gutter adjacent to the pavement.

melting point The temperature at which a substance liquefies.

processing to achieve specific physical properties.

and truck-trailer combinations.

non-directional detector A detector capable of being actuated by vehicles proceeding in either

OEM see original equipment manufacturers

operator A person, or company, who controls or directs the operations of a

attack by oxygen in the presence of heat and sunlight.

Roads and Traffic Authority New South Wales

Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources Tasmania

Australian Standards 1348-2002