FACULTY OF CIVIL ENGINEERING & EARTH RESOURCES

ASSIGNMENT 2
Subject Code BAA 2413

Subject Name HIGHWAY & TRAFFIC ENGINEERING

Section 02

Group Member FARRAH SYAHIDA BINT MOHD FADZIR AA13190

Name & ID
THEN KANG JIN AA13192
Number
ARUN A/L THANGAMANI AA13193

TING QIANG CHAO AA13195

YIP WAI KIT AA13198

Lecturer MADAM AZLINA BINTI HAJI ISMAIL

Remarks

Endorsement
TABLE CONTENT

No. Content Page Number

1 Introduction 1

2 Content:

 Road layout drawing and cross section of the 2-3

site

 Determine whether travel speed greater than

3-4
post speed of 90km/hr

 Determine whether volume of traffic during

any one hour exceeds 2500 veh/hr 5-6

 Identify the road environment hazards &

Ways to minimize the occurrence of traffic 7-10
accident

3 Conclusion 10
INTRODUCTION
Generally, road environment safety can be divided into 3 aspects, namely geometric design,
traffic control system, weather and light conditions. A safe road environment incorporates
numerous design principles, appropriate geometric design standards, good delineation under all
conditions, adequate surface skid resistance and roadside free of unforgiving hazards. The safety
needs of all the vehicles and road users should be prioritize and serve.

In addition, although these guidelines listed above did not really concerned with the road
user studies, however, we have to take in account that the drivers and other road users must
perceive and process information, make decisions and react to the stimuli within a specific time
intervals. A comfortable and safe driving can only be possible when motorists are in excellent
condition, which means they are below stressful processing and decision making rate and above a
minimum level of arousal. All of these road user’s abilities and actions are crucial in developing
and maintaining safe road environment.

The road environment and the vehicles using it should be carefully designed, built and
maintained to inform the road user and to minimize the consequences due to human errors. Road
users can accurately analyze the conditions of the road environment and perform the required
actions to prevent accidents from happening if the road is well designed. Failure in designing the
required road to ease the road users to judge correctly will increase the severity and likeliness of
the accidents. Therefore, a periodically maintenance and rehabilitation of the road must be
conducted to reduce road environment hazards and ensure the safety of road users, lengthen the
lifespan of the road and comfort to all the road users.

CONTENT
We are divided into a group of four and we are assigned to analyze and investigate a traffic
study on Lebuhraya Tun Abdul Razak which is just in front of UMP Campus. The region of the
road we are required to investigate is the main T-junction to UMP Gambang Campus on Lebuhraya
Tun Abdul Razak.

We are required to determine whether the travel speeds are significantly greater than the post speed
of 90 km/hr and also to determine if the volume of traffic during one hour exceeds 2500 veh/hr. If
exceeded, meaning the road can be considered seriously congested. We are also required to
conduct the road link and transport facility inventory of all possible road environment hazards and
examine the likely severity of the consequences resulting from the run-off vehicle striking these
hazards. In this report, we suggest the required pedestrian and vehicle facilities which may
minimize the occurrence of traffic accident at the area.

Layout of the Plan

Based on the layout above, the blue line indicates its directions is heading Gambang Toll and some
of the cars can stopped on the right side of the road to turn into UMP main gate. Red line indicated
the opposite direction and is coming from Kuala Lumpur passing through UMP. We can also see
that there are a total of 5 diverge points, 5 merge points and 8 points of intersection. These points
are the places where accidents are most like to happen due to high speed travel in the blue and red
lane.
Cross Section of the Road

 Type of Road: Federal Road (Route 12)

 Lane: Dual lane
 Accessibility: Partial Control (Left-turn)
 Rural Road
 Also known as Segamat-Kuantan Highway
 Built under the JKR R4 road standard, allowing maximum speed limit of up to 90 km/h.

To determine if the travel speeds on Lebuhraya Tun Abdul Razak are significantly greater
than the post speed of 90km/hr
Spot speed studies are used primarily to determine the distribution of traffic speeds, or vehicle
speed percentiles, at a specific location.

These data help traffic engineers determine and or evaluate traffic operations and traffic control
practices at specific locations; establish design elements for roadways, pedestrian walkways, and
bikeways; assess roadway safety questions; and make other traffic safety-related analyses. These
are two method of conducting spot speed study:

1) Stop watch method

2) Radar meter method

After analyzing both methods, radar meter method is chosen because it costs lesser and more
accurate.
Radar meter method

This method uses a reflected waves (radar meter detector). A very high frequency is
directed from the radar speed meter to the moving vehicle. The meter is easily operated by one
person and automatically displays vehicle speed. A staff member simply pulls the trigger or points
the meter at a vehicle and, as the meter displays the vehicle’s speed, records the speed on the data
collection sheet.
Agency staff must be physically on site to collect data. They will need a radar meter,
backup batteries, a tripod (optional), manual data collection forms (again, sample forms are
included in the handbook), and a hardhat and safety vest. Again, staff should select the appropriate
time of day for collecting data. They will also need to determine a strategy for targeting vehicles
randomly (for example, every fifth vehicle).

The traffic observation location should be out of sight of motorists; if drivers see the radar
meter, they may slow down, skewing study results. This method can measured up to 2% accuracy.

To conduct the spot speed study, we collect a sample size of 100 vehicles. The sample was
collected during non-peak period which is around 3pm – 4pm. Record observations on radar meter
spot speed data from. Frequency table is generated and speed percentiles is determined:
To determine if the volume of traffic during any one hour exceeds 2500 veh/hr
Traffic volume studies are conducted to collect data on the number of vehicles and/or
pedestrians that pass a point during a specified time period. The objective of traffic volume studies
is to observe the traffic flow trend and movement pattern.

There is two methods for conducting traffic volume counts which is manual count and
automatic count. The count period should avoid special event or compromising weather conditions
(Sharma 1994).

Manual count method require small samples of data. Unless expense of automatic
equipment is not justified and not available, manual count method is applied. There is 3 methods
for manual count method which is tally sheets, mechanical counting boards and electronic counting
boards.

For tally sheet. The simplest means of conducting manual counts is recording data onto
tally sheets by ticking a tick mark on a pre-prepared field form. Moreover, a watch or stopwatch
is required to measure the desired count interval. For mechanical counting board. The mechanical
count boards consist of counters mounted on a board that record each direction of travel. The
button represents the volume of traffic being counted. Figure 1 shows the mechanical counting
board. For electronic counting boards are battery-operated, hand-held devices used in collecting
traffic count data. Electronic counting boards are lighter, more compact and easier to handle
compared with mechanical counting boards. The data can also be downloaded to computer which
saves time.

Figure 1
Automatic count method for gathering large amounts of traffic data. There is 3 methods
for automatic count method which is portable counters, permanent counters and videotape.

For portable counters, it is a form of manual observation. Portable counters serve the same
purpose as manual counts but with automatic counting equipment. The period of data collection
using this method is usually longer than when using manual counts. For permanent counters, it is
used when long-term counts are to be conducted. The counts could be performed every day for a
year or more. The data collected may be used to monitor and evaluate traffic volumes and trends
over a long period of time. For videotape, observers can record count data by videotaping traffic.
Traffic volumes can be counted by viewing videotapes recorded with a camera at a collection site.
A digital clock in the video image can prove useful in noting time intervals.

The traffic volume counts is starting from 0000 hours to 2359 hours on 18 May 2015 at the
main T-junction to UMP Gambang Campus on Lebuhraya Tun Abdul Razak. The data shows 15
minutes count periods for 2 hours peak periods during morning and evening peak hours.

Traffic Volume Count (Morning)

800 700 675
600 575
600 450 500 425 450
Counts

400
200
0
0700 - 0715 - 0730 - 0745 - 0800 - 0815 - 0830 - 0845 -
0715 0730 0745 0800 0815 0830 0845 0900
Time Period

Figure 2

Traffic Volume Count (Evening)

625 700 650
800 550 600 525
500 500
Counts

600
400
200
0
1645 - 1700 - 1715 - 1730 - 1745 - 1800 - 1815 - 1830 -
1700 1715 1730 1745 1800 1815 1830 1845
Time period

Figure 3

From Figure 2, it is show the traffic volume counts during morning peak hours. The peak
hours is from 0730 – 0830 hours. The volume is 600 + 700 + 675 + 575 = 2550 veh/hr which is
more than 2500 veh/hr. From Figure 3, it is show the traffic volume counts during evening peak
hours. The peak hours is from 1700 – 1800 hours. The volume is 600 + 625 + 700 + 650 = 2575
veh/hr which is more than 2500 veh/hr.
Road Environment Hazards & Ways to Minimize the Occurrence of Traffic Accident
Hazard 1

The signboards are not clear

The signboards as shown at above are not in good condition, the signboards are not clear. From
the first picture, even though the arrow is shown clear but the colour of the signboard is not clear,
it suppose yellow/orange in colour, but it is fade to white in colour now. It might not be seen clearly
at night, it suppose having yellow/orange in colour so that it can reflect light for easier to be seen.
For the second picture, the words “Berhenti” is not show clearly and the colour also faded, it is
becoming not so obvious and drivers might not notice it and keep on driving without having any
alertness that they have to stop.

Solution
The authority should replace the old signboards to a new signboard and make sure the colour of
the signboards are sharp and obviously enough so that the road users can see the signboards clearly
at all time.

Hazard 2

The markings are not clear

As you can see, the markings on the road are not clear. This happened due the exposure of sunlight
every day and the rain water as well as the friction caused by the vehicles’ tire. Without the
markings on road, road users do not have a guide line to drive in a safe range and the road markings
are also used to promote road safety and bring out smooth flow of traffic, this is why markings on
road are crucial for road users.

Solution
Public Works Department (JKR) should check the markings of the road regularly for example
3months once. They should also ensure that the markings of road is clear enough to be seen by
road users.

Hazard 3

The defects on road

The pictures above are the road defects found at the junction of the road, those defects included
are bleeding, pothole, patch and so on. The road defects were most probably causes by the heavy
vehicles since that junction is using by frequent number of loaded lorry. The road can’t support
the heavy load of the vehicles so the road is damaged and it may lead to severe accidents occur.

Solution
Public Works Department (JKR) should design stronger and more durable pavement for that road
because that road is having large traffic flow by a lot of heavy vehicles. Then, JRK also should
check the condition of the road regularly and should repair the road immediately once the defection
is found. By doing this, the defects would not affect the flow of the road and also the safety of the
road users.
Hazard 4

No guardrail along the road

As you can see on the photo above, there is no guardrail provided along the road curve, it may
increase accident rate due to the secure level of the road is low. Basically, guardrail is a system for
road safety where fixed on the side of the roads for preventing vehicles from riding out from roads.
In addition, the guardrail is design to absorb impact during collision thus it minimizing injury of
road users.

Solution
Authority should build or provide guardrail along the curves which can provide railing protection
to vehicles and also the road users.

Hazard 5

Does not has proper drainage system

From the photo, it can see that there is no proper drainage system along the road. There is no road
kerbs construct or build along the road to allow the rain water to flow out from the road. Improper
drainage system design caused the road damaged and it may lead to occur potholes. The water on
the road may make the vehicles skid and lead to accident occur, this is why it is a hazard for road
users.
Solution
JKR should have designed a proper and good drainage systems along the road such as put road
kerbs which can allow the water to flow out from the road. Without water accumulating on the
road surface, it eventually will prevent accident occur.

Conclusion
The main T-junction in front of UMP of Lebuhraya Tun Abdul Razak shows that the road
has many defects and worn out. It might endangers the safety of the road users that travel in this
road. After conducting the traffic study on this road, we collected and analyzed the data and found
out that the travel speeds on Lebuhraya Tun Abdul Razak do not exceeds that of post speed of
90km/hr. Meaning the vehicles are speeding on Lebuhraya Tun Abdul Razak just in front of the
UMP Campus, but they do not exceed the speed limit set. For the study of the volume of traffic,
we found out that there are indeed more than 2500 veh/hr during one hour. We can make
conclusion that the road can be considered seriously congested.

Since this is a T-junction, to have a safe road environment, we should have adequate
guidance throughout the route, controlled release of information as not to be too often in a short
time and repeated information where necessary to reinforce a certain message. Road users should
be warned of any possible hazards and inform them any of unexpected conditions that are likely
to be encountered. As seen above, there are several hazards that can proved to be serious if the
road users are not careful enough. This can be improve by proper maintenance of the road. Besides
that, transport authorities and local governments can reduce car accidents and causalities by
providing safer road environment through improvements in design, construction and development
of the road network. The traffic should also be managed constantly for comfortable road
experience. In a nutshell, a holistic approached that incorporated road environment, vehicle and
road user safety must be practiced when facing the overall road safety challenge.