SPOT SPEED STUDY

 INTRODUCTION
 Speed is an important transportation consideration because it relates to safety, time, comfort, convenience, and economics. Spot
speed studies are used to determine the speed distribution of a traffic stream at a specific location. The data gathered in spot speed
studies are used to determine vehicle speed percentiles, which are useful in making many speed-related decisions.

CALCULATING SPOT SPEED OF VEHICLES USING STOPWATCH MEHTOD:

 THE MOVING CAR OBSERVER METHOD:

A stopwatch spot speed study includes five key steps:

1. Obtain appropriate study length.
2. Select proper location and layout.
3. Record observations on stopwatch spot speed study data form.
4. Calculate vehicle speeds.
5. Generate frequency distribution table and determine speed percentiles.
 Obtain Appropriate Study Length The study length is important because it is used in the calculation of vehicle speeds. Table given
provides recommended study lengths, which are based on the average speed of the traffic stream. Using these recommended study
lengths makes speed calculations straightforward and less confusing. If these lengths are not appropriate, another length can be used
assuming it is long enough for reliable observer reaction times.

Traffic Stream Average Speed Recommended Study Length (feet)

Below 25 mph 88
25–40 mph 176
Above 40 mph 264
Record Observations on Stopwatch Spot Speed Data Form
On the stopwatch spot speed data form (a blank form is provided in Appendix A.1), the observer records the date, location, posted speed limit,
weather conditions, start time, end time, and down time. As the front wheels of a vehicle (or only the lead vehicle in a group) cross a mark or
pavement crack at the beginning of the predetermined study length, the observer starts the stopwatch. The watch is stopped when the vehicle’s
front wheels pass a reference line in front of the observer. A slash is recorded on the data form corresponding to the elapsed time observed.

Calculate Vehicle Speeds

To calculate vehicle speed, use the predetermined study length and the elapsed time it took the vehicle to move through the course (as
𝐷
recorded on the stopwatch data form) in the following formula (Robertson 1994): V=
1.47𝑇

where V = spot speed (mph), D = length (feet), and T = elapsed time (seconds). In the equation, 1.47 is a constant that converts units of feet per
second into miles per hour. For example, if the spot speed study length is 100 feet and the motorist’s elapsed time is 2.5 seconds, the motorist is
traveling at

100 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑡
= 27 𝑚𝑝ℎ.
1.47(2.5 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑠)

Generate Frequency Distribution Table and Determine Speed Percentiles

Determine the 50th and 85th speed percentiles using a frequency distribution table and calculations as described earlier.
 BIRLA VISHVAKARMA MAHAVIDYALAYA
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
PROJECT: "Sport Speed Study"
Location: - Gold Cinema (Vidyanager To Anand) Date 9/19/2019
TIME TAKEN BY VEHICALE TO TRAVEL 30 METER OF DISTANCE (In Sec)
Motorcycle /
SR NO Autorickshaw Car (Small) Car (Big) Bus CYCLE PEDESTRIAN
Scooter
PCU 0.5 1 1 1.2 3 0.5 0
1 3.32 3.93 6.13 2.94 6.20 25.83
2 2.81 10.43 3.85 3.16 6.58 13.00
3 3.49 3.83 4.16 4.18 7.70 12.70
4 2.15 3.32 3.46 2.75 11.20 12.10
5 3.09 3.83 3.55 2.96 9.86
6 2.23 5.99 3.30 4.25 13.00
7 2.67 6.53 3.70 5.83
8 3.49 3.64 3.19 3.92
9 3.12 11.10 2.73 3.81
10 3.52 5.18 3.45 5.87
11 2.76 6.02 3.19 5.30
12 3.12 3.54 4.38 5.67
13 3.52 9.26 3.20 3.09
14 2.76 6.69 2.50 3.15
15 3.12 5.54 3.65 4.12
16 3.53 11.65 5.05 5.60
17 3.86 5.89 2.70 3.54
18 3.95 6.28 3.70 2.16
19 3.64 3.37 3.66 3.08
20 3.57 9.26 3.43 2.47
21 2.70 4.20 3.24 3.47
22 3.81 9.77 4.19 2.82
23 4.19 10.21 2.25 3.01
24 2.90 4.20 3.40 2.42
25 3.98 5.80 3.21 3.10
26 3.02 2.95 3.01 3.19
27 3.63 3.22 3.74
28 3.17 4.08 3.47
29 3.14 5.80 5.83
30 2.55 4.25 3.67
31 3.68 3.37 3.27
32 3.61 7.75 3.92
33 4.17 5.83 3.20
34 4.45 3.73 3.01
35 4.25 8.00 3.80
36 3.99 3.27 4.19
37 3.54 3.83 3.14
38 4.68 4.56 3.94
39 2.57 3.54 3.73
40 3.20 4.79 2.92
41 2.48 9.91 5.88
42 3.90 5.68 4.18
43 3.03 4.25 4.77
44 3.24 10.40 2.12
45 3.16 3.30 3.71
46 3.58 6.02 3.52
47 3.24 3.54 2.60
48 2.12 9.26 2.94
49 3.06 3.27 3.58
50 4.12 4.75 3.60
 BIRLA VISHVAKARMA MAHAVIDYALAYA
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
PROJECT: "Sport Speed Study"
Location: - Gold Cinema (Vidyanager To Anand) Date 9/19/2019
SPEED OF VEHICALE (Km/hr)
Motorcycle /
SR NO Autorickshaw Car (Small) Car (Big) Bus CYCLE PEDESTRIAN
Scooter
PCU 0.5 1 1 1.2 3 0.5 0
1 32.53 27.48 17.62 36.73 17.42 4.18
2 38.43 10.35 28.05 34.18 16.41 8.31
3 30.95 28.20 25.96 25.84 14.03 8.50
4 50.23 32.53 31.21 39.27 9.64 8.93
5 34.95 28.20 30.42 36.49 10.95
6 48.43 18.03 32.73 25.41 8.31
7 40.45 16.54 29.19 18.52
8 30.95 29.67 33.86 27.55
9 34.62 9.73 39.56 28.35
10 30.68 20.85 31.30 18.40
11 39.13 17.94 33.86 20.38
12 34.62 30.51 24.66 19.05
13 30.68 11.66 33.75 34.95
14 39.13 16.14 43.20 34.29
15 34.62 19.49 29.59 26.21
16 30.59 9.27 21.39 19.29
17 27.98 18.34 40.00 30.51
18 27.34 17.20 29.19 50.00
19 29.67 32.05 29.51 35.06
20 30.25 11.66 31.49 43.72
21 40.00 25.71 33.33 31.12
22 28.35 11.05 25.78 38.30
23 25.78 10.58 48.00 35.88
24 37.24 25.71 31.76 44.63
25 27.14 18.62 33.64 34.84
26 35.76 36.61 35.88 33.86
27 29.75 33.54 28.88
28 34.07 26.47 31.12
29 34.39 18.62 18.52
30 42.35 25.41 29.43
31 29.35 32.05 33.03
32 29.92 13.94 27.55
33 25.90 18.52 33.75
34 24.27 28.95 35.88
35 25.41 13.50 28.42
36 27.07 33.03 25.78
37 30.51 28.20 34.39
38 23.08 23.68 27.41
39 42.02 30.51 28.95
40 33.75 22.55 36.99
41 43.55 10.90 18.37
42 27.69 19.01 25.84
43 35.64 25.41 22.64
44 33.33 10.38 50.94
45 34.18 32.73 29.11
46 30.17 17.94 30.68
47 33.33 30.51 41.54
48 50.94 11.66 36.73
49 35.29 33.03 30.17
50 26.21 22.74 30.00
 BIRLA VISHVAKARMA MAHAVIDYALAYA
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
PROJECT: "Sport Speed Study"
Location: - Gold Cinema (Anand To Vidyanager) Date 9/19/2019
TIME TAKEN BY VEHICALE TO TRAVEL 30 METER OF DISTANCE (In Sec)
Motorcycle /
SR NO Autorickshaw Car (Small) Car (Big) Bus CYCLE PEDESTRIAN
Scooter
PCU 0.5 1 1 1.2 3 0.5 0
1 4.65 3.00 2.71 3.20 3.49 6.20 14.70
2 2.93 3.00 3.01 3.79 2.70 6.58 15.30
3 4.83 4.00 3.03 4.04 3.2 7.70 17.25
4 2.92 4.30 4.56 4.05 11.20 19.30
5 4.30 3.20 2.96 4.05 22.04
6 4.30 2.60 2.49 4.08 23.70
7 4.06 3.27 2.12 4.57 24.34
8 3.32 3.39 2.86 4.96 26.09
9 4.38 2.94 1.80 5.01 27.18
10 4.05 4.30 2.43 5.70 30.02
11 3.15 2.55 3.35 30.48
12 3.33 4.57 3.15 32.73
13 4.27 4.76 2.90
14 3.71 4.76 2.79
15 4.05 4.97 2.28
16 2.98 3.98 3.49
17 3.99 3.19 3.50
18 3.24 2.81 2.43
19 4.29 3.20 2.44
20 3.29 3.72 2.56
21 2.50 3.14 2.83
22 3.73 2.68 3.19
23 2.64 2.61 4.58
24 5.74 3.07 4.64
25 2.64 3.01 4.68
26 2.31 3.27 3.90
27 3.13 3.20 3.15
28 3.10 2.81 2.69
29 3.22 4.31 3.36
30 3.01 3.91 3.24
31 3.33 3.46 3.25
32 4.64 2.62 2.63
33 3.98 3.40 3.20
34 4.64 3.00 2.63
35 4.66 3.53 3.89
36 2.25 2.81 3.50
37 3.30 4.18 2.49
38 2.71 3.39 2.75
39 3.90 4.04 2.89
40 3.35 3.27 2.89
41 3.62 3.59 2.83
42 4.21 3.72 2.70
43 3.32 3.33 2.60
44 3.95 3.35 2.74
45 3.94 3.91 3.10
46 3.09 3.39 2.05
47 5.30 4.57 2.91
48 3.75 3.39 2.50
49 4.19 3.60 3.40
50 2.73 3.20 3.25
 BIRLA VISHVAKARMA MAHAVIDYALAYA
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
PROJECT: "Sport Speed Study"
Location: - Gold Cinema (Anand To Vidyanager) Date 9/19/2019
SPEED OF VEHICALE (Km/hr)
SR Motorcycle /
Autorickshaw Car (Small) Car (Big) Bus CYCLE PEDESTRIAN
NO Scooter
PCU 0.5 1 1 1.2 3 0.5 0
1 23.23 36.00 39.85 33.75 30.95 17.42 7.35
2 36.86 36.00 35.88 28.50 40.00 16.41 7.06
3 22.36 27.00 35.64 26.73 33.75 14.03 6.26
4 36.99 25.12 23.68 26.67 9.64 5.60
5 25.12 33.75 36.49 26.67 4.90
6 25.12 41.54 43.37 26.47 4.56
7 26.60 33.03 50.94 23.63 4.44
8 32.53 31.86 37.76 21.77 4.14
9 24.66 36.73 60.00 21.56 3.97
10 26.67 25.12 44.44 18.95 3.60
11 34.29 42.35 32.24 3.54
12 32.43 23.63 34.29 3.30
13 25.29 22.69 37.24
14 29.11 22.69 38.71
15 26.67 21.73 47.37
16 36.24 27.14 30.95
17 27.07 33.86 30.86
18 33.33 38.43 44.44
19 25.17 33.75 44.26
20 32.83 29.03 42.19
21 43.20 34.39 38.16
22 28.95 40.30 33.86
23 40.91 41.38 23.58
24 18.82 35.18 23.28
25 40.91 35.88 23.08
26 46.75 33.03 27.69
27 34.50 33.75 34.29
28 34.84 38.43 40.15
29 33.54 25.06 32.14
30 35.88 27.62 33.33
31 32.43 31.21 33.23
32 23.28 41.22 41.06
33 27.14 31.76 33.75
34 23.28 36.00 41.06
35 23.18 30.59 27.76
36 48.00 38.43 30.86
37 32.73 25.84 43.37
38 39.85 31.86 39.27
39 27.69 26.73 37.37
40 32.24 33.03 37.37
41 29.83 30.08 38.16
42 25.65 29.03 40.00
43 32.53 32.43 41.54
44 27.34 32.24 39.42
45 27.41 27.62 34.84
46 34.95 31.86 52.68
47 20.38 23.63 37.11
48 28.80 31.86 43.20
49 25.78 30.00 31.76
50 39.56 33.75 33.23