Lakshitha Senarathne

BSc (Hons), AMIE(SL)

 Sight distance is the length of highway visible to a driver.
 A safe sight distance is the distance needed by a driver on an
arterial, or a driver exiting a driveway or street, to verify that
the road is clear and avoid conflicts with other vehicles.
 Sight lines must be kept free of objects which might interfere
with the ability of drivers to see other vehicles.
 Features such as hills, curves in the road, vegetation, other
landscaping, signs, and buildings can reduce sight distance.
1. Stopping – To stop when approaching an obstacle
2. Decision – To take a decision at a complex situation
3. Passing – To take a decision regarding overtaking
4. Intersection – To take a decision at an intersection
5. Crossing RR – To take a decision at a Rail road
 Stopping sight distance (SSD) is the minimum sight distance
available on a highway at any spot having sufficient length to
enable the driver to stop a vehicle traveling at design speed,
safely without collision with any other obstruction.
 The stopping sight distance is the sum of lag distance and the
braking distance.
 Lag distance is the distance the vehicle traveled during the
reaction time t and is given by vt, where v is the velocity in
m/s.

5
 SSD
 Braking distance is the distance traveled by the vehicle
during braking operation. In flat road
work done in stopping the vehicle = Kinetic energy of the vehicle

 If F is the maximum frictional force developed and the

braking distance is l, then work done against friction in
stopping the vehicle is Fl = fWl where W is the total weight of
the vehicle. The kinetic energy at the design speed is

1 𝑚𝑣 2 1 𝑤𝑣 2
=
2 2𝑔

1 𝑤𝑣 2
fWl = 6
2𝑔
 SSD

l = Therefore, the SSD = lag distance(perception – reaction

time) + braking distance and given by

𝒗𝟐
SSD = vt +
𝟐𝒈𝒇

Generally the Perception – Reaction time is taken as 2.5

seconds
 SSD
EYE heights and Object Cutoff heights

Driver eye height: Passenger car = 1.05m

Commercial vehicle = 1.80m
Object cutoff height above road surface
Approaching vehicle = 1.15m
Stationary object = 0.20m
Vertical tail light/stop light = 0.6m
Upward divergent angle = 1 deg
Vertical clearance = 5.2m
 SSD
Breaking Distance

𝑉2
Breaking Distance = 𝑎
254 [ ± 𝐺]
𝑔

Assume a rate of
Where, deceleration, driver may
break harder
V – Speed (km/h)
a = 3.2 m/s2 normal
a – deceleration rate a = 4.1 m/s2 emergency
G – grade (decimal)
g – acceleration due to gravity (9.81)
 SSD
SSD Equation

𝑇𝑅 𝑉 𝑉2
SSD = + 𝑎
3.6 254 [ ± 𝐺]
𝑔

Where,
TR – Reaction time (2.5s)
V – Speed (km/h)
a – deceleration rate
G – grade (decimal)
g – acceleration due to gravity (9.81)
 SSD
Example 01

Use basic assumption to determine SSD at 60 km/h on

i). 0% grade
ii). 3% grade
 SSD
SSD according to AASHTO GB
 SSD
Example 02

Given : Available Sight Distance – 75m on a +3% grade. Find

maximum speed
Discuss: Would this be an acceptable condition if the road is
generally posted for 60 km/h?
 SSD
Friction factor (μ)

 A single value that represent the whole of speed change

 F is not same all speed
 It decreases as the initial speed increases
 It varies with tire pressure, tire tread pattern, depth of tread,
condition of pavement surface, and the presence of moisture,
mud, snow or ice.
 2
SSD
𝑇𝑅 𝑉 𝑉
SSD = +
3.6 254 μ

Where,
TR – Total Reaction time
V – Speed (km/h)
μ – Coefficient of longitudinal friction

With the effect of Grade and Friction

𝑇𝑅 𝑉 𝑉2
SSD = +
3.6 254 (μ+0.01𝐺)
 SSD

If final velocity is not zero at the end of the skid,

𝑇𝑅 𝑉 𝑉𝑜2 − 𝑉𝑓2
SSD = + 𝑎
3.6 254 [𝑔 ± 𝐺]

Vo - Original velocity

Vf - Final velocity at the impact

 SSD
Coefficient of Longitudinal Friction

Design Speed (km/h) μ

30 0.4
40 0.38
50 0.35
60 0.33
70 0.31
80 0.30
90 0.30
100 0.29
 SSD
Typical value for friction

Concrete pavement (Dry) 0.60 to 0.75

Concrete Pavement (Wet) 0.45 to 0.65
Asphalt pavement 0.55 to 0.70
Gravel 0.40 to 0.70
Ice 0.05 to 0.20
Snow 0.30 to 0.60
 SSD
Example 03

Accident reconstruction:
Average Skid Mark = 5m