COURSE NAME

COURSE CODE
OPEN-ENDED LAB
SEMESTER

TITLE OF EXPERIMENT : SPOT SPEED STUDY

DATE OF EXPERIMENT : 17 APRIL 2024
GROUP : GROUP 2
GROUP MEMBERS 1. SHEIKH ABDUL HAFIZ BAJUNAID BIN SHEIKH ABDUL
HAMID (2022855788)
2. NOOR MUHAMAD AZIM BIN NOOR ZIKRI (2022830622)
3. MAS AYU AFRINA BINTI MOHD ANUWAR (2022864618)
4. SITI NURZAHIRAH BINTI ZULKIFLY (20222457654)

LECTURER : PROFESOR MADYA TS. DR. JEZAN BIN MD DIAH

LEVEL OF OPENESS : 1

MARKS COMMENTS

INTRODUCTION

BASIC CONCEPTS

METHODOLOGY

RESULTS&ANALYSIS 1 2 3 4 5

DISCUSSION 1 2 3 4 5

CONCLUSION 1 2 3 4 5

TOTAL MARKS
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

NO CONTENT

1 INTRODUCTION

2 PROBLEM STATEMENT

3 OBJECTIVE

4 PROCEDURES

5 RESULT AND ANALYSIS

6 MANUAL CALCULATION

7 DISCUSSION

8 CONCLUSION

9 APPENDIX
 INTRODUCTION

Level 1 laboratory activities involve guiding students through a problem and providing
them with solutions. Students are encouraged to solve the task utilising their creativity
and innovation in groups. The exercise aims to encourage individual learning and
prepare students for more challenging open-ended laboratory activities.

In this laboratory exercise, students undertake a spot speed study (using radar
gun and manual assessment) to estimate the distribution of vehicle speeds at a
specific place. Students improve their critical analytical skills by analysing and
presenting experimental results effectively.

PROBLEM STATEMENT

Over speeding is one of the major causes of road accidents in Malaysia. Speed limits
are implemented to prevent over speeding of vehicles. To determine whether the
drivers of vehicles comply with the speed limit, spot speed studies are carried out to
determine the speed of vehicles operating on the road.

OBJECTIVES

a) To establish the speed distribution of a traffic stream at a specific site or called

as basic speed data.
b) To determine vehicle speed percentiles via speed trend analysis, which are
useful in speed related decision making.
 PROCEDURES

- Using Radar Gun

a) Perform necessary preparations such as sufficient pens or pencils, radar

meter spot speed study data forms and clipboards, radar speed meters are in
good condition, read instructions and procedure for the used radar gun, obtain
backup battery, safety vests and others.
b) Decide study location and selected site should be a STRAIGHT AND LEVEL
road section that represents different traffic conditions.
c) Enumerators should arrive 30 minutes earlier at site in order to familiarize
(do visual appraisal survey) with it prior to select strategic location,
distribute the equipment, fill in the general information of the spot speed data
recording forms that comprise the observer's name, time and date of study, name
of site, posted speed limit and weather condition and begin at the planned
time.
d) Sketch the layout of the study area with the description of chosen reference
points, position of observation, number of lanes and road class
e) The enumerators, the radar unit and the station for speed data collection
should be inconspicuous where possible so that vehicular speeds are
significantly not affected by the data collection activities
f) Randomly select the samples, for example the observer could record a speed
reading for every third vehicle or every fifth vehicle
g) The radar meter should be made as direct a line with oncoming traffic as
possible, meaning to make it as close to the roadway as possible (an exception
when the vehicles selected, and radar unit tends to affect vehicle speeds
considerably)
h) Observe the vehicle speeds for duration of one hour study or 100 samples
- Using Manual (Stopwatch)

a) Perform necessary preparations such as sufficient pens or pencils,

stopwatch (manual) spot speed study data forms and clipboards, stopwatch,
safety vests and others.
b) Decide study location and selected site should be a STRAIGHT AND LEVEL
road section that represents different traffic conditions
c) Enumerators should arrive 30 minutes earlier at site in order to familiarize
(do visual appraisal survey) with it prior to select strategic location,
distribute the equipment, fill in the general information of the spot speed data
recording forms that comprise the observer's name, time and date of study, name
of site, posted speed limit and weather condition and begin at the planned
time.
d) Sketch the layout of the study area with the description of chosen reference
points, position of observation, number of lanes and road class
e) Select two (2) reference points and label as Start and End point with a
distance of 50 meter apart (Less than 100 meter for spot speed).
f) Station two (2) observers at Start and End point

g) Observer at starting point will give a sign to observer at end point to record
the vehicle’s time travel from start to end point (Make sure both observers are
use the same vehicle’s body reference point)
h) The other observer (Start or/and End point) will record the plate registration
number and vehicle classification of selected vehicle
i) Determine the speed of vehicles by using speed formula, speed =
distance/time (km/hr)
 RESULT AND ANALYSIS

Manual Calculation

Speed Average Cumulative

(km/hr) (km/hr), X Frequency, f frequency Fx X-mean (X-mean)² f(X-mean)²

1 0 - 14 12 0 0 0 -26.4 696.96 0

15 - 19 17 1 1 17 -21.4 457.96 457.96

20 - 24 22 1 2 22 -16.4 268.96 268.96

25 – 29 27 0 2 0 -11.4 129.96 0

30 – 34 32 9 11 288 -6.4 40.96 368.64

35 – 39 37 6 17 222 -1.4 1.96 11.76

40 – 44 42 3 20 126 3.6 12.96 38.88

45 – 49 47 1 21 47 8.6 73.96 73.96

50 – 54 52 1 22 52 13.6 184.96 184.96

55 – 59 57 1 23 57 18.6 345.96 345.96

60 - 64 62 1 24 62 23.6 556.96 556.96

65 - 69 67 1 25 67 28.6 817.96 817.96

25 960 3126

Table 1: Calculated relative and cumulative frequency of Manual Record

Figure 1: Frequency Histogram Graph

Figure 2: Frequency Distribution Graph

 Figure 3: Cumulative Frequency Graph

P₉₈ = 62.5 km/hr

P₈₅ = 50.0 km/hr

P₁₅ = 27.0 km/hr

Spot Speed Radar Gun Calculation

Speed Average Cumulative

Frequency, f
(km/hr) (km/hr), X Frequency Fx X-mean (X-mean)² f(X-mean)²

1 0 - 14 1 12 1 12 -26.7 712.89 712.89

15 - 19 0 17 1 0 -21.7 470.89 0

20 - 24 4 22 5 88 -16.7 278.89 1115.56

25 – 29 2 27 7 54 -11.7 136.89 273.78

30 – 34 24 32 31 768 -6.7 44.89 1077.36

35 – 39 24 37 55 888 -1.7 2.89 69.36

40 – 44 23 42 78 966 3.3 10.89 250.47

45 – 49 13 47 91 611 8.3 68.89 895.57

50 – 54 7 52 98 364 13.3 176.89 1238.23

55 – 59 1 57 99 57 18.3 334.89 334.89

60 - 64 1 62 100 62 23.3 542.89 542.89

100 3870 6511

Table 2: Calculated relative and cumulative frequency of Spot Speed Study Radar Gun

Figure 4: Frequency Histogram Graph

 Figure 5: Frequency Distribution Graph

Figure 6: Cumulative Frequency Graph

P₉₈ = 51.0 km/hr

P₈₅ = 44.0 km/hr
P₁₅ = 28.0 km/hr
 MANUAL
CALCULATION
 DISCUSSION

From these laboratory activities, the students are required to conduct a spot
speed study using radar gun and manual determination using stopwatch,by recording
the speeds of a sample of vehicles in UiTM Shah Alam. The purpose of this spot
speed study was to establish the speed distribution of a traffic stream at a specific
site and To determine vehicle speed percentiles via speed trend analysis, which are
useful in speed related decision making. We are required to get data for 50m and
involve variant types of vehicles such as bus, lorry, van, car and motorcycle.

From the study that has been done by using radar guns, the students found
out the arithmetic mean speed is 38.7 km/hr. Next, the median speed is 116.77
km/hr. The modal speed is 34.5 km/hr and it is obtained from the frequency
distribution curve graph. The standard deviation that we get from the calculation is
km/hr. From the cumulative frequency distribution graph, the design speed which is
also the 95th percentile speed is 63 km/hr. Furthermore, the speed limit which is
also the 85th percentile speed is 50 km/hr. The disturbance speed which is also the
15th percentile speed is 28 km/hr. There is some error by using radar gun and
stopwatch which is 0.085 %. Lastly, the adequacy of data for 95% confidence
significant level 95% is between 116.77 and 116.94. It is shown that the result is
95% confidence, a significant level to the accurate data.

Next, based on data that has been obtained by using manual, which is
stopwatch, the students found out the arithmetic mean speed is 38.4 km/hr. Next, the
median speed is 35.75 km/hr. The modal speed is 33.25 km/hr and it is obtained from
the frequency distribution curve graph. There is some error by using radar gun and
stopwatch which is 0.456 %. Lastly, the adequacy of data for 95% confidence
significant level 95% is between 38.4 and 39.29. It is shown that the result is 95%
confidence, a significant level to the accurate data.

Besides that, the radar gun recorded the accurate time speed measurements and
was suitable for all types of vehicles. On the other hand, the manual method is
slightly more detailed in result. Our study found that both approaches produced
average speeds.

There are several factors affecting the spot speed study at that location. The
first one is the driver factor. Some drivers will slow down their vehicles when passing
through that road. This is because they are concerned with the safety of the students that
crossed the road. Next, the second factor is vehicle factor. There are more than one
vehicle passing through which will make traffic become slower. Other than that,
traffic volume will also affect the spot speed study. During the peak hours, the
increasing number of vehicles will cause traffic congestion and hence it will slow
down the vehicles. Since we conduct it during peak hours, the number of vehicles is
uncertain.
 CONCLUSION

In conclusion, spot speed studies help in establishing the vehicle speed

percentiles using speed trend analysis as well as the speed distribution of a flow of
traffic at a particular point. Through the analyses of this experiment, we have placed
the tabulation of data down for both methods which may be obtained by applying
radar gun and manual delineating to generate the arithmetical mean speed, median
and standard deviation. According to the tabulated we collected, we have provided
two sets of speeds with highest frequency which are 30-34 km/hr and 35-40 km/hr by
using a radar gun while by manual calculation is 30-34 km/hr. From the cumulative
frequency distribution graph, the speed limit can be found by taking 85th percentile of
vehicle speed within the set speed limit which is 44 km/hr using radar gun. At 98th
percentile, the limit speed is calculated by using radar gun method is 51 km/hr.
Design speed represents the maximum attainable speed without forgetting the safety
element over allotted distance. The physical characteristics of a highway that could
affect how a vehicle operates are related to the speed that is selected for geometric
design. In summary, 51 km/hr is considered the design speed. Regarding the spot
speed at the 15th percentile, it is also known as disturbance speed, which is the speed
at which a driver signals a slowdown when they approach a traffic jam. Based on the
disturbance speed graph, the figure obtained by employing a radar gun is 28 km/hr.
By determining the speed at 15th, 85th and 98th percentile, we can establish
the effectiveness of new or existing speed limits for enforcement practices. Besides,
we can ensure the speed trends to access the effectiveness of the policy of the speed
limits and enforcement. The investigation of the spot speed can determine the high
occurrence accident locations at which speed is suspected to be the main cause.
There are several factors that may be influenced the accuracy of the data collected
such as the radar gun should be used to shoot the vehicle at 45 angle and should not
be obvious to the sight of the drivers because it will affect the actual speed of the
vehicles. During this analysis, human error might arise hence it will effect the result
for both methods. Human error can exist while taking the time travel of vehicles
within the distance.
APPENDIX