SIGHT

DISTANCE
The distance along the road surface at which a driver
has visibility of objects stationary or moving at a
specified height above the carriageway is known as the
sight distance.
 Three sight distance are considered
Stopping or absolute minimum sight distance
Safe overtaking or passing sight distance
Safe sight distance for entering into uncontrolled intersections

Sight distance should satisfy three conditions:

Driver should be able to stop incase of any obstruction without collision
Driver should be able to safe to overtake at reasonable intervals
Driver entering into uncontrolled intersection should be able to control
his vehicle.
Intermediate sight distance
- twice of SSD
- provide to give limited overtaking opportunities to fast vehicles

Head light sight distance

- distance visible to driver during night
- its difficult during up-gradients & ascending stretch of the valley curves
Stopping
Sight Distance
Stopping sight distance is the
required by a driver of a vehicle
travelling a given speed to bring his
vehicle to a stop after an object on
the roadway becomes visible.
 The sight distance available on a road to a driver
Features of the road ahead
height of the drivers eye above the road- 1.2m
height of the object above the road surface 0.15m
The distance within which a motor vehicle can be stopped depends
total reaction time of the driver
speed of the vehicle
efficiency of brakes
frictional resistance between the road and tyre
gradient of the road
 Total reaction time
is the time taken from the instant the object is visible to the
driver to the instant brakes are effectively applied
amount of time gap several factors
the vehicle travels a certain distance
Total reaction time may be split into two parts
perception time time required to apply brake
brake reaction time several factors including the skill of the
driver, problems and environmental factors
 speed of the vehicle
efficiency of brake
frictional resistance between the road & tyre
Analysis of stopping distance
lag distance distance travelled by the vehicle during the total reaction time
V X (1000/60*60) => t = 0.278V m
braking distance several factors type and condition of the vehicle
 Stopping distance = lag distance + braking distance
i.e., SD, m = vt + v/(2gf)
v = speed of the vehicle
t = time in sec
f = design coefficient of friction
g = acceleration due to gravity = 9.8m/sec
If speed is V kmph, stopping distance
SD, m = { 0.278Vt + v/254f}
 Stopping distance at slopes
SD, m = vt + v/(2g(f0.01n)
n = o, when the ground is level

If speed is V kmph, stopping distance

SD, m = 0.278V.t + V/254f(f0.01)n
Overtaking
Sight Distance
The overtaking sight distance is that
distance which should be available to enable
the driver to overtake another vehicles
safely and comfortable without interfering
with the speed of an oncoming vehicle
travelling at the design speed should it come
into view after the overtaking manoeuvre is
started.
 Important factors
speeds of overtaking vehicle, overtaken vehicle and the
vehicle coming from opposite direction, if any
distance between the overtaking and overtaken vehicles; the
minimum spacing depends on the speeds
skill and reaction time of the driver
rate of acceleration of overtaking vehicle
gradient of the road, if any
Elements of OSD
Tables to compare data of
SSD Vs. OSD
Safe stopping
Design Speed safe overtaking Intermediate sight
sight distance
K.P.H sight distance (m) distance (m)
(metres)

40 45 165 90

50 60 235 120

60 80 300 160

65 90 340 180

80 120 470 240

13,00,000
nearly people die in road crashes each year
13,00,000
people die in road crashes each year

3,287
Death per day

135,000
ROAD CRASH HAPPEN IN INDIA