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TRAFFIC ENGINEERING ELEMENTS.

Some General facts: Growth Of A Country Largely Depends Upon Its Efficient Transportation System. During past 3 decades the number of motor vehicles are growing at a rapid rate. The growth rate of various vehicle classes like :o CARS o BUSES o TRUCKS o TWO WHEELERS -- 7.5%. -- 5.3%. -- 6.2%. -- 17.2%.

Traffic is increasing both in terms of volume and intensity. The number of vehicles plying on the road is increasing by 12% annually. This tremendous growth of automobile as one of the most convenient modes of travel has brought problem of parking,accidents,delay,congestion and environmental degradation

What We Need Is we need a traffic/ transport system which is:o cheap o fast o safe o stress free

Which can reduce traffic congestion

Traffic engineering is defined as that part of engineering which deals with the traffic planning and design of roads,parking facilities and with control of traffic to provide safe, convenient and economic movement of vehicles and pedestrians.

1) Traffic engineering provide a valuable tool to understand the problem and evolve suitable measures to overcome the deficiencies. 2) The basic object of traffic engineering is to achieve efficient,free and rapid flow of traffic. 3) Factual studies of traffic operations provide the foundation for developing methods to improve in general and for solving specific problems. FUNCTION With systematic traffic studies, scientific analysis and engineering application, improvement of traffic performance of road network is the main function of traffic engineering. Traffic engineering therefore deals with the application of scientific, 1) Principles. 2) Tools. 3) Techniques 4) Findings.

There are several phases of traffic engineering like traffic characteristics, studies and analysis, operation control and regulation, geometric design, management, research etc. Traffic Engineering Elements Traffic characteristics depends upon the following elements: A) ROAD USER CHARACTERISTICS. The human element as pedestrian, cyclist, cart driver or motorist is involved in all actions of the road user. The physical,mental and emotional characteristics of human being affect their ability to operate motor vehicle safely or to service as a pedestrian. Factors affecting road user characteristics :1) Physical 2) Mental 3) Psychological 4) Environmental. 1) Physical characteristics. 1) Permanent :- vision,hearing,strength and the general reaction to traffic situations. 2) Temporary :- fatigue,alcohol or drugs and illness.All these reduce alertness and increase the reaction time. a) Vision Acuity of vision, peripheral vision and eye movement, glare(adaptability to change of light) vision, glare recovery and depth judgment.

Field of clearest and acute vision is within 3 degrees to 20 .The field of peripheral vision ranges from 120 to 160 degrees.

b) The depth judgment is important for judging distance, speed of vehicles and other objects ahead. c) Hearing is important for pedestrians and cyclists. d) Lack of strength may make parking manoeuvers difficult,particularly for heavy vehicles. e) The reaction to traffic situations depends on the time required to perceive and understand the traffic situation and to take the action. 2) Mental characteristics. Knowledge,skill,intelligence,experience and literacy.

A) Knowledge: of vehicle characteristics,traffic behavior,driving practice,rules of road and psychology of road users. B) Reactions to certain traffic situations become more spontaneous with experience. C) Understanding the traffic regulation and special instructions and timely action depends on intelligence and literacy. 3) Psychological factors. These affect reaction to traffic situations of road users.

The emotional factors such as attentiveness,fear,anger,superstition, impatience,general attitude towards traffic and regulations and maturity.

Environmental factors.: Environmental conditions affecting the road users are traffic stream characteristics,facilities to traffic,atmospheric conditions and locality. B) Driver characteristics Driver characteristics such as the simple reaction time,depth judgement,field of vision,visual acuity,glare recovery etc. may be measured in the laboratory using DRIVER TESTING UNIT: PERCEPTION,INTELLECTION, EMOTION AND VOLITION, Time taken for these processes is known as PIEV time. Perception is the process of perceiving the sensations received through the eyes,ears,nervous system and the brain. Intellection is the identification of the stimuli by the development of new thoughts and ideas. Emotion is the personal trait of the individual that governs his decision making process,after the perception and intellection of the stimuli. Volition is the will to react to a situation. The perception time is the time required for a driver to come to the realization that brakes must be applied. The brake reaction time is that time lag between the perception of danger and the effective application of brakes.total perception and brake reaction time is 2.5 seconds. C) VEHICULAR CHARACTERISTICS. It will not be economically feasible to keep on increasing the geometric standards and thickness of pavement from time to time to meet the needs of a few vehicles whose dimensions and weights are increased. The vehicle standards should be uniform atleast within a country.

Vehicular characteristics affecting the road design may be classified as static and dynamic characteristics.

a) STATIC - Dimensions,weight and maximum turning angle. The height of vehicle affects the clearance of overhead structures. The height of driver seat affects the visibility distance. The height of head light affects the head light sight distance at valley curves. The length of vehicles affects the capacity,overtaking distance,maneuverability of vehicles. The width of the vehicle affects the width of the traffic lanes,shoulders and parking facilities. Maximum dimensions of road vehicles. Width Height single decked 2.5 m. 3.8 m. 4.75 m. 11.0 m to 18 m. 12.0 to 52.2 tones.

Double decked Length varies from weight of loaded vehicle

Axel weight do not exceed from more than 10.2 tones per axel except in case of tandem axel fitted with 8 tyres.

The minimum turning radius depends upon length of wheel base and the features of the steering system.

Gross weight ,axel and wheel loads of vehicle govern the structural design of pavements.

b) DYNAMIC characteristics of vehicles affecting the road design are speed, acceleration and braking characteristics.

From the total hauling capacity and the power required to overcome the total tractive resistance (inertia, rolling resistance, air resistance and grade resistance) it is possible to determine the speed and acceleration of the vehicle which in turn useful in traffic regulation, planning and design.

Speed of vehicle. The vehicle speed affects sight distance,design gradient, capacity of traffic lane,width of shoulders and many other geometric features.

Braking characteristics. Depends on the design and type of braking system and their efficiency.