UNIVERSITI TUN HUSSEIN ONN MALAYSIA (UTHM)

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Speed is the rate of movement of a vehicle, generally expressed in kilometres per hour.

A spot speed study of traffic speed at one point or spot on a traffic way. It consists of a
series or a sample of observation of the individual speed at which vehicles are approaching an
intersection or passing a point at anon-intersection location. These observations are used to
estimate the speed distribution of the entire traffic stream at that location, under the conditions
prevailing at the time of the study.

Spot speed studies can be used to study speeds at problem locations in order to
determine whether speeds are too high and if complaints received are justified, for accident
analysis in order to determine the relationship of speed to accidents which may help in
developing corrective measures, and for before-and-after studies in order to evaluate the effect
of some change in controls or conditions.

In relation with this, there has been several complaints of vehicles speeding along the
UTHM – Fujitsu section of road. This poses a danger to motorists, pedestrians and cyclists as
there is a lot of activities in the area. Furthermore, there is aplenty of right-turning movements
along this stretch of road, with no storage lanes provided for right-turners. This is dangerous
because the right-turners stop on the fast lane and have no protection.

2.0 OBJECTIVE

The objectives of this study are :-

1. To determine the speed characteristics of traffic at the location.

2. To justify the problem of speeding at the location.

3.0 APPARATUS
1. Stopwatch
2. Forms SS1 and SS2
3. Safety Vest

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Figure 3.1
4.0 PROCEUDRE
1. Identify the location
2. Get vehicles speeds on the road using stop watch and record the data.
3. Record all speed measurements in Form SS1.
4. Count and classify the vehicles according to class using the analog counter.
 Class 1 (Motocycle)
 Class 2 (Cars)
 Class 3 (Van and Small Lorries)
 Class 4 (Big Lorries & Buses)
5. Record the numbers of vehicle and vehicle speeds according to their respective
class.
6. Transfer the data in Form SS1 to Form SS2.
7. Using the data, draw the :-
a) Frequency Histogram (Percentage of vehicles vs. Speed)
b) Frequency Distribution Curve (Percentage of vehicles vs. Speed)
c) Cumulative Frequency Distribution Curve (Cumulative percentage vs. Speed)
8. 7. Determine the following speed characteristics:
a) Mean speed, Median speed and Mode speed
b) 85-th Percentile speed
c) Standard deviation
d) Pace
9. From the result, suggest a reasonable average speed (example Speed Limit and Speed
Zones) in order to improve the traffic flow and for the safety of the road

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Spot Speed (km/h)

Time
1 2 3 4
78.4 96.0 100.9 50.0 107.1 138.0 67.0 79.1 110.8 80.4 73.3 68.7
11.40 a.m. 106.8 128.8 104.3 112.5 128.1 105.9 111.5 120.9 97.0 67.7 58.6
–
52.3 118.0 132.5 126.3
11.50 a.m.
114.3 112.5 109.1
102.6 73.5 65.3 98.6 122.4 130.8 80.4 58.1 85.8 70.9 83.9 74.0
11.50 a.m. 120.2 109.1 115.0 84.3 87.2 94.2 105.8 124.2 85.1 87.3 69.0 60.0
– 130.9 78.3 100.0 105.6 104.0 122.8 101.4 113.2 85.1
12.00 a.m. 95.5 111.5 78.0 77.0 108.8 89.1
74.2
132.3 102.3 117.3 106.8 69.2 91.4 70.9 79.1 101.4 73.5 61.4 101.4
12.00 a.m. 120.8 118.8 128.9 71.9 107.1 104.3 122.0 92.3 80.4 92.4 56.4 78.4
– 81.9 129.5 114.6 85.9 90.0 91.0 104.0 112.5 82.9 65.3
12.10 a.m. 75.6 95.5 75.6 106.8 122.8 120.0 84.0 95.6 121.8
94.5 98.6 79.3 110.0 99.2 61.2 106.5
97.8 52.9 106.4 116.2 120.8 95.6 114.0 92.8 106.8 69.3 57.8 43.2
12.10 a.m. 84.9 64.9 108.9 95.6 115.8 76.2 122.9 90.2 80.4 78.3 62.1 75.0
– 56.6 79.8 84.7 79.8 105.6 94.5 107.8 110.4 82.9 64.9 75.3 89.1
12.20 a.m. 105.7 92.4 102.5 107.2 91.9 84.6
110.4
125.0 85.5 63.0 116.2 107.9 105.6 87.5 107.8 93.5 82.8 85.8 89.7
12.20 a.m. 69.1 92.1 68.2 98.3 86.5 94.3 113.2 99.2 84.6 75.9 57.8 65.8
– 92.1 67.9 94.7 95.6 98.6 93.5 61.2 58.1 80.4 66.3 74.1 69.0
12.30 a.m. 92.1 68.8 106.8 116.5 87.5 93.5 79.1 82.9 77.5
89.1 126.7 85.5 120.5 91.9 94.6
106.4 45.9 59.2 106.8 111.5 94.2 92.3 80.4 95.6 71.6 62.7 64.6
12.30 a.m. 99.8 92.4 69.2 112.5 118.0 85.9 85.1 113.2 82.9 74.5 49.9 58.9
– 83.4 92.4 91.5 90.0 107.2 84.3 77.0 84.6 74.2 74.8 58.1 82.2
12.40 a.m. 61.6 87.2 91.9 114.3 97.0 110.8 101.4 72.4 71.9 67.3
126.3 107.1 71.9 56.7 66.2

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5.0 RESULT AND DATA ANALYSIS

1. Table before show Form SS1 that recorded the speed of vehicles.
2. Table below show Form SS2.
Speed Class Mid Cumulative
Class Percentage
Class Value, x fx Percentage
Frequency, f in Class (%)
(km/h) (km/h) (%)
40 – 49 44.5 3 133.5 1.2 1.2
50 – 59 54.5 14 763 5.3 6.5
60 – 69 64.5 29 1870.5 11.0 17.5
70 – 79 74.5 36 2682 13.6 31.1
80 – 89 84.5 42 3549 15.9 47.0
90 – 99 94.5 46 4347 17.4 64.4
100 – 109 104.5 40 4180 15.2 79.6
110 – 119 114.5 28 3206 10.6 90.2
120 – 129 124.5 21 2614.5 8.0 98.2
130 – 139 134.5 5 672.5 1.8 100
∑ 264 24018 100
Form SS2
Speed Class Mid
Class Cumulative
Class Value, x fx2
Frequency, f Frequency
(km/h) (km/h)
40 – 49 44.5 3 3 5940.75
50 – 59 54.5 14 17 41583.5
60 – 69 64.5 29 46 120647.25
70 – 79 74.5 36 82 199809
80 – 89 84.5 42 124 299890.5
90 – 99 94.5 46 170 410791.5
100 – 109 104.5 40 210 436810
110 – 119 114.5 28 238 367087
120 – 129 124.5 21 259 325505.3
130 – 139 134.5 5 264 90451.3
∑ 264 24018 2298516.1

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∑𝑓𝑥
Mean Speed =
𝑛
24018
=
264
= 90.98 km/h

𝑛
( )−𝑓𝐿
2
Median Speed = L+[ ] xC
𝑓𝑚
264
( )−124
2
= 89.5 + [ ] x9
170
= 89.9 km/h

∑𝑓𝑥 2 (∑𝑓𝑥)2
Standard Deviation = √ − 𝑛(𝑛−1)
𝑛−1

2298516.1 69696
= √ − 264(263)
263

= 93.5 km/h

Mode Speed = 138.0 km/h

85th Percentile Speed = 115 km/h

Pace = 94 km/h – 104 km/h

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CALCULATION

Class 1 (Motorcycles)
Mean speed = 92.5 km/h
Maximum speed = 132.3 km/h
Minimum speed = 45.9 km/h

Class 2 (Cars)
Mean speed = 102.0 km/h
Maximum speed = 138.0 km/h
Minimum speed = 50.0 km/h

Class 3 (Vans & Medium Trucks)

Mean speed = 92.4 km/h
Maximum speed = 124.2 km/h
Minimum speed = 56.7 km/h

Class 4 (Heavy Trucks & Buses)

Mean speed = 75.7 km/h
Maximum speed = 92.4 km/h
Minimum speed = 43.2 km/h

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6.0 DISCUSSION

The data clearly shows that most drivers did not care about the speed limit on that
specific time. This is easily seen when one looks at the mean, mode and median which are
overall higher than the 80 km/h . Although the mean of the data was higher than the speed limit,
the data still followed a somewhat normal distribution with a little skew to the left.
The data followed a pattern with the pace between 94.0 km/h and 104.0 km/h.
One can also see from the cumulative frequency graph that only about 18% of drivers
respected the 60 km/h speed limit. Although the experiment gathered some good data, it could
have been much more accurate if human error would have been taken out of it. If the experiment
had some kind of sensor instead of a flagger and a timer armed with a stop watch, the data
could be much more accurate and it would rid itself of error due to human error and reaction
time. Another way to get more accurate data would be to make the data gathering process a
little bit more discreet as to not let the drivers know they are being timed.
Some drivers either accelerated or slowed down when they saw that they we being
timed throwing off our data in the process. One way to fix this would be once again using small
sensor or spreading out the groups and the group members to make it less obvious to the driver
that they are being timed. The way this experiment was carried out gave good data but not
complete data. Since it was conducted under fair weather and the road was dry when the
experiment was done, we only have data for fair days with dry roads.
Also, we only have data for the hour between 10 AM and 11 AM. People’s driving
tendencies might be affected a lot by different things such as the road condition, the time of
day and the weather. In order to get a very complete and accurate set of data, the experiment
would need to be carried out a few more times under different road conditions, weather
conditions and at different times of the day.

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7.0 CONCLUSION

Field traffic studies strengthened the traffic theories presented in the class room. Spot
speed study and intersection analysis and signal assessment helped in this experiment to gain
the following benefits: Spot speed study and intersection analysis and signal assessment field
study implementations, familiarity with standard procedures and standard forms, data
presentation techniques, data analysis, field experience and applications, group work,
professional presentation skills, interpretations of results, and professional software
implementation. Through this experiment may allow to suggest solutions to improve the
studies intersections such as signal timing modifications, intersection widening, geometric
adjustments, and realignments. This paper described the minimum requirements for
establishing the aforementioned studies and intended objectives.

8.0 REFERENCES
1. Scribd – Spot Speed Study Laboratory
https://www.scribd.com/doc/49475682/Speed-Spot-Study-Lab-Report
Date of Access : 25th October 2016
2. Spot Speed Study Workshop Instruction Manual
MassSAFE at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Governor’s Highway Safety Bureau, PDF Note

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