Topics Covered in this Section:

Geometric Design of Highways

1. Sight Distances (Stopping Sight Distance,
Decision Sight Distance, Passing Sight
Distance)
2. Horizontal Curve Elements
3. Vertical Curve Element

Sight Distances

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Topics Covered in this Lecture:

Sight Distances
1. Stopping Sight Distance
2. Passing Sight Distance
3. Decision Sight Distance

Sight Distances

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Roadway Characteristics Affecting the

Drivers

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Sight Distance
Sight distance: The length of the roadway a driver can
see ahead at any particular time.
The sight distance has to be long enough such that when a driver
is traveling at the highways design speed, adequate time is given,
after an object is observed in the vehicles path, to make the
necessary evasive maneuvers without colliding with the object.

Sight distance is the most important road characteristic

affecting highway geometric design
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1. Stopping Sight Distance (SSD)

Stopping Sight distance: The minimum sight distance required for a belowaverage driver to stop before hitting an unexpected object on the road ahead
.

SSD= PRT distance + Braking Distance

=v t

2g ( f

G)

For g = 9.81 m/s2 and converting v (m/s) into V (km/h):

SSD= 0.278

V t +

V
254 ( f

G)

For g = 32.2 ft/s2 and converting v (f/s) into V (miles/h):

SSD= 1.47

V t +

V
30 ( f

G)
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Stopping Distance in Feet

Varying Grade
600
500
2 percent grade

400

0 percent grade

300

-2 percent grade

200
100
0
0

20

40

60

80

Miles per Hour

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Stopping Distance in Feet

Varying Friction
1800
1600
1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0

Friction = 0.5
Friction = 0.25
Friction = 0.1

20

40

60

80

Miles per Hour

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Varying Reaction Time

Stopping
Distance

800

2.5 second
reaction time
1.5 second
reaction time
0.6 second
reaction time

600
400
200
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Miles per Hour

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Stopping Sight Distance (SSD)

Example 1
Determine the minimum stopping sight distance on a
3.5% grade for a design speed of 110 km/h and
coefficient of longitudinal friction = 0.28.
SSD= 0.278
= 0.278

V t +
110

V
254 ( f

2.5s +

G)
110

254 (0.28 0.035)

= 76.4 + 194.4 = 270.8 m

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A vehicle is traveling at uniform velocity,

at t0 the driver realizes a vehicle is
stopped in the road ahead and the driver
brakes, grade = + 1%, t = 0.8 sec. The
stopped vehicle is just struck, assume vf
= 0. The braking vehicle leaves skid
marks that are 405 feet long. Assume
f=0.35. Should the police officer at the
scene cite the driver for traveling over
the 55 mph posted speed limit?

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2. Passing Sight Distance (PSD)

Passing Sight distance: The distance required by an
overtaking vehicle on a two-lane, two-way highway
to pullout, pass, and return to the driving lane.
The PSD also permits a driver to complete a passing maneuver
without colliding with an opposing vehicle and without cutting off
the passed vehicle. It will also allow the driver to successfully
abort the passing maneuver if desired.
Only single passes are considered.
Usually the case where a passenger car passes a passenger car is
assumed.
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2. Passing Sight Distance (PSD)

PSD= d1 + d2 + d3 + d4
Distance traveled
= during PRT & +
initial acceleration

The passing
vehicle is in the
left lane

Safety
clearance
Sight Distances

The opposing
+ vehicle traveled
during 2/3 of d2

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2. Passing Sight Distance (PSD)

Assumptions for Calculating PSD

The impeder is traveling at a uniform speed.

The passer is traveling at the same speed as the impeder until
he decides to pass.
On arrival at a passing section, some time elapses to decide to
pass.
If the decision is made, the passer accelerates and the average
passing speed is about 10 mph (17km/h) more than that of the
impeder (e.g. if traveling at 30 mph, the target passing speed is 40 mph)
A suitable clearance exists between the passer and the
opposing vehicle when the pass is completed.

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2. Passing Sight Distance (PSD)

Calculating PSD

d1= Distance traveled during PRT & initial acceleration

d1 = 0.278 t1 (V

m)

a t1
2

Impeders Speed = V m
(m 17 km/h)
Passers speed = V m (initially) , and then accelerates to V
Time elapsed = t1 (time of initial maneuver)
t1 = 3.5 - 4.5 sec
a = average acceleration = 2.5 2.65 km/h/sec
d2= Distance traveled while passing vehicle is in the left lane
= 0.278

t2

d3= Safety Clearance between passing and opposing vehicles at the end of
the pass = 30 90 m
d4= Distance traveled by opposing vehicle = 2/3 of d2
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Passing Sight Distance (PSD)

Example
A driver traveling on a two-lane highway behind another car
traveling at 60 km/h observes on the opposing direction a
vehicle at a distance about 300 m. Can the driver overtake the
car in front of him?
- Speed limit = 80 km/h
- Initial manoeuvring time = 4 sec
- Average acceleration = 2.5 km/h/sec
- Clearance distance = 50 m
- Overtaking time = 10 sec

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3. Decision Sight Distance (DSD)

Decision Sight distance: Distance required for a driver to
detect an unexpected or otherwise difficult-to-perceive
information source or hazard in a roadway environment that
may be visually cluttered, recognize the hazard of its threat
potential, select an appropriate speed and path, and initiate and
complete the required safety maneuvers safely and efficiently.

DSD is longer than SSD because of the reasons discussed above.

The distance depends on the type of maneuver taken.

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