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

1|CENTER FOR DIPLOMA STUDIES (CEDS)

UNIVERSITI TUN HUSSEIN ONN MALAYSIA (UTHM)

Figure 3.1
4.0
1.
2.
3.
4.

5.
6.
7.

8.

9.

PROCEUDRE
Identify the location
Get vehicles speeds on the road using stop watch and record the data.
Record all speed measurements in Form SS1.
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)
Record the numbers of vehicle and vehicle speeds according to their respective
class.
Transfer the data in Form SS1 to Form SS2.
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)
7. Determine the following speed characteristics:
a) Mean speed, Median speed and Mode speed
b) 85-th Percentile speed
c) Standard deviation
d) Pace
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

2|CENTER FOR DIPLOMA STUDIES (CEDS)

Time
78.4
11.40
a.m.

11.50

106.
8
52.3

Spot Speed (km/h)

1
2
3
96.0
100.
138.
UNIVERSITI
TUN HUSSEIN107.
ONN MALAYSIA
(UTHM)
50.0
67.0
79.1
9
1
0
128.
104.
112.
128.
105.
111.
120.
8

a.m.
102.
11.50
a.m.

12.00

73.5

65.3

6
120.

109.

115.

2
130.

1
78.3

0
100.

a.m.

5
118.

1
132.

9
126.

0
114.

5
112.

3
109.

5
122.

1
130.

84.3

87.2

94.2

105.

104.

0
111.

98.6

95.5

80.4

58.1

105.

124.

122.

8
101.

2
113.

78.0

77.0

2
108.
8

110.

80.

4
67.

97.0

85.8
85.1

70.
9
87.
3

85.1
89.1

74.2
132.

102.

117.

106.

3
118.

3
128.

12.00

3
120.

a.m.

81.9

8
129.

9
114.

95.5

75.6

12.10
a.m.

75.6
94.5
97.8

12.10
a.m.

12.20
a.m.

12.20
a.m.

12.30
a.m.

84.9
56.6
105.
7

69.2

91.4

70.9

107.

104.

122.

85.9

90.0

91.0

0
104.

106.

122.

120.

98.6

79.3

0
110.

71.9

52.9

106.

116.

120.

64.9

4
108.

8
115.

79.8

9
84.7

95.6
79.8
102.

92.4

5
110.

125.

85.5

63.0

0
69.1

92.1

68.2

8
105.
6
107.
2

0
95.6
76.2
94.5
91.9

4
116.

107.

105.

98.3

86.5

94.3

79.1
92.3
112.

84.0

95.6

99.2

61.2

114.
0
122.
9
107.
8

92.8
90.2
110.
4

101.

73.

5
92.

80.4
82.9

4
65.
3

121.
8
106.
5
106.
8
80.4
82.9

69.
3
78.
3
64.
9

84.6

87.5
113.
2

92.
67.9
94.7
3 | C E N T E R F O R D I P L 95.6
O M A S98.6
TUDIE
S ( C E61.2
DS)
93.5
1
92.1
68.8
106.
116.
87.5
93.5
79.1
8
5

107.
8

93.5

99.2

84.6

58.1

80.4

82.9

82.
8
75.
9
66.
3
77.
5

UNIVERSITI TUN HUSSEIN ONN MALAYSIA (UTHM)

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

Class

Value, x

(km/h)

(km/h)

40 49
50 59
60 69
70 79
80 89
90 99
100 109
110 119
120 129
130 139

44.5
54.5
64.5
74.5
84.5
94.5
104.5
114.5
124.5
134.5

3
14
29
36
42
46
40
28
21
5
264

Speed

Class Mid

Class

Value, x

(km/h)

(km/h)

40 49
50 59
60 69
70 79
80 89
90 99
100 109
110 119
120 129
130 139

44.5
54.5
64.5
74.5
84.5
94.5
104.5
114.5
124.5
134.5

Mean Speed
=
=

Class
Frequency, f

fx
133.5
763
1870.5
2682
3549
4347
4180
3206
2614.5
672.5
24018
Form SS2

Cumulative

Percentage
in Class (%)
1.2
5.3
11.0
13.6
15.9
17.4
15.2
10.6
8.0
1.8
100

Class

Cumulative

Frequency, f

Frequency

3
14
29
36
42
46
40
28
21
5
264

3
17
46
82
124
170
210
238
259
264
24018

Percentage
(%)
1.2
6.5
17.5
31.1
47.0
64.4
79.6
90.2
98.2
100

fx2
5940.75
41583.5
120647.25
199809
299890.5
410791.5
436810
367087
325505.3
90451.3
2298516.1

fx
n

24018
264
90.98

km/h

4|CENTER FOR DIPLOMA STUDIES (CEDS)

UNIVERSITI TUN HUSSEIN ONN MALAYSIA (UTHM)

Median Speed

L+

([ n2 )f ]
L

xC

fm

([ 2642 )124 ]

89.5 +

x9

170

89.9 km/h

Standard Deviation

Mode Speed

2298516.1
69696

263
264(263)

93.5 km/h

138.0

85th Percentile Speed

Pace

fx

f x2

n1

km/h
=

115 km/h

94 km/h 104 km/h

5|CENTER FOR DIPLOMA STUDIES (CEDS)

UNIVERSITI TUN HUSSEIN ONN MALAYSIA (UTHM)

CALCULATION
Class 1 (Motorcycles)
Mean speed

Maximum speed =

132.3

Minimum speed

45.9 km/h

92.5 km/h
km/h

Class 2 (Cars)
Mean speed

Maximum speed =

138.0

Minimum speed

50.0 km/h

102.0

km/h
km/h

Class 3 (Vans & Medium Trucks)

Mean speed

Maximum speed =

124.2

Minimum speed

56.7 km/h

92.4 km/h
km/h

Class 4 (Heavy Trucks & Buses)

Mean speed

Maximum speed =

92.4 km/h

Minimum speed

43.2 km/h

75.7 km/h

6|CENTER FOR DIPLOMA STUDIES (CEDS)

UNIVERSITI TUN HUSSEIN ONN MALAYSIA (UTHM)

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. Peoples 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.

7|CENTER FOR DIPLOMA STUDIES (CEDS)

UNIVERSITI TUN HUSSEIN ONN MALAYSIA (UTHM)

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
Governors Highway Safety Bureau, PDF Note

8|CENTER FOR DIPLOMA STUDIES (CEDS)