HIGHWAY & TRAFFIC LABORATORY

ECG564
OPEN-ENDED LAB
SEPT 2018 – JAN 2019

TITLE OF EXPERIMENT : Spot Speed Study

DATE OF EXPERIMENT : 12 September 2018
GROUP : EC220 5C2
GROUP MEMBERS 1. Maria Binti Azman
2. Nurul Shahirah Binti Atan
3.
4. Nurin Adlina Binti Mohd Roslan

LECTURER : DR. IR. SITI NURBAYA BINTI AB KARIM

LEVEL OF OPENESS : 0
MARKS COMMENTS
INTRODUCTION CO4 PO4
OBJECTIVE(S) CO4 PO4
METHODOLOGY CO4 PO4
RESULTS CO4 PO4
DISCUSSION CO4 PO4 2 4 6 8 10
CONCLUSION CO4 PO4 2 4 6 8 10
ORGANIZATION CO4 PO4 2 4 6 8 10

TOTAL MARKS
SPOT SPEED STUDY
i. DATA COLLECTED USING STOPWATCH
Tabulated Data
Speed Middle No of % of Total Cumulative 𝑓𝑣 𝑣2 𝑓𝑣 2
Group Speed Observation Observation %
10-14.9 12.5 0 0 0 0.0 156.3 0.0
15-19.9 17.5 1 1 1 17.5 306.3 306.3
20-24.9 22.5 5 5 6 112.5 506.3 2531.3
25-29.9 27.5 29 29 35 797.5 756.3 21931.3
30-34.9 32.5 35 35 70 1137.5 1056.3 36968.8
35-39.9 37.5 13 13 83 487.5 1406.3 18281.3
40-44.9 42.5 10 10 93 425.0 1806.3 18062.5
45-49.9 47.5 5 5 98 237.5 2256.3 11281.3
50-54.9 52.5 1 1 99 52.5 2756.3 2756.3
55-59.9 57.5 1 1 100 57.5 3306.3 3306.3
60-64.9 62.5 0 0 0.0 3906.3 0.0
TOTAL 100 100 3325.0 115425.0
Table 1.1: Sample data collected using stopwatch.

Graphical Form

Frequency Distribution Curve

40

35
% of Total Observation

30

25 Frequency
Distribution
20 Curve
15

10

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
Speed (km/hr)

Figure 1.1: Frequency Distribution Graph for data collected using stopwatch.
 CUMULATIVE FREQUENCY CURVE
Cumulative Frequency Curve
110

100 98th percentile

90
85th percentile
CUMULATIVE % OF OBSERVATION

80

70

60

50

40

30

20 15th percentile
10

0
0 12.5 25 SPEED (KM/HR) 37.5 50 62.5

Figure 1.2: Cumulative Frequency Graph for data collected using stopwatch.

Frequency Distribution Histogram

40
35
% of Total Observation

30
25
20
15
10
5
0
12.5 17.5 22.5 27.5 32.5 37.5 42.5 47.5 52.5 57.5 62.5
Speed (km/hr)

Figure 1.3: Frequency Histogram for data collected using stopwatch.

Statistical Analysis
a) Arithmetic mean speed
∑ 𝑓𝑣 3325
∑𝑓
= = 33.25 km/hr
100

b) Median speed

𝑛
−𝑓𝑖
2
L+ xC
𝑓𝑚
Where: L = lower limit
n = number of observations
𝑓𝑖 = lower boundary cumulative frequency
𝑓𝑚 = current boundary frequency
C = interval between limit
100
−35
2
Median speed = 30 + x 4.9
35

= 32.10 km/hr

c) Modal speed is the highest speed that nominated among the observations. In this case,
the highest speed among vehicle is in the speed group between 30km/hr to 34.9km/hr
with the number of observations 35 vehicles.

d) Standard Deviation
∑ 𝑓𝑣2 (∑ 𝑓𝑣)2 115425 (3325)2
√( − ) = √( − )
𝑛−1 𝑛 (𝑛−1) 99 100(99)

= 7.013 𝑘𝑚/ℎ𝑟

e) Standard error and the adequacy of data for 95% confidence significant level
𝑆𝐷
Standard error =
√𝑛
Where: SD: standard deviation
n: number of observation
7.013
Standard error =
√100
= 0.7013
 ii. DATA COLLECTED USING RADAR GUN
Tabulated Data

Speed Middle No of % of total Cumulative

fv v2 fv2
Group Speed Observation observation %
15-19.9 17.5 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 306.3 0.0
20-24.9 22.5 2 2.0 2.0 45.0 506.3 22783.5
25-29.9 27.5 7 7.0 9.0 192.5 756.3 5293.8
30-34.9 32.5 19 19.0 28.0 617.5 1056.3 20068.8
35-39.9 37.5 18 18.0 46.0 675.0 1406.3 25312.5
40-44.9 42.5 21 21.0 67.0 892.5 1806.3 37931.3
45-49.9 47.5 17 17.0 84.0 807.5 2256.3 38356.3
50-54.9 52.5 4 4.0 88.0 210.0 2756.3 11025.0
55-59.9 57.5 6 6.0 94.0 345.0 3306.3 19837.5
60-64.9 62.5 5 5.0 99.0 312.5 3906.3 19531.3
65-69.9 67.5 0 0.0 99.0 0.0 4556.3 0.0
70-74.9 72.5 0 0.0 99.0 0.0 5256.3 0.0
75-79.9 77.5 1 1.0 100.0 77.5 6006.3 6006.3
80-84.9 82.5 0 0.0 0.0 6806.3 0.0
Total 100 100 4175.0 206146.0
Table 1.2: Sample data collected using radar gun.

Graphical Form

Frequency Distribution Curve

25.0

20.0
% of Total Observation

15.0
Frequency
Distribution
10.0 Curve

5.0

0.0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
Speed (km/h)

Figure 1.4: Frequency Distribution Curve using radar gun.

 Frequency Distribution Histogram
25.0

20.0
% of Total Observation

15.0

10.0

5.0

0.0
17.5 22.5 27.5 32.5 37.5 42.5 47.5 52.5 57.5 62.5 67.5 72.5 77.5 82.5
Speed (km/hr)

Figure 1.5: Frequency Distribution Histogram using radar gun.

Cumulative Frequency Curve

100.0
98 Percentile
90.0
85 Percentile
80.0

70.0
Cumulative %

60.0

50.0 Cumulative
Frequency Curve
40.0

30.0

20.0
15 Percentile
10.0

0.0
0 7.5 15 22.5 30 37.5 45 52.5 60 67.5 75 82.5
Speed (km/hr)

Figure 1.6: Cumulative Frequency Curve using radar gun.

Statistical Analysis
a) Arithmetic mean speed
∑ 𝑓𝑣 700
∑𝑓
= = 50km/hr
14

b) Median mean speed, m

𝑛
2
−𝑓𝑖
L+ xC
𝑓𝑚
Where: L = lower limit
n = number of observations
𝑓𝑖 = lower boundary cumulative frequency
𝑓𝑚 = current boundary frequency
C = interval between limit
100
( −46)
2
Median speed = 40 + [
21
] ×4.9

= 40.39 km/hr

c) Modal speed is the highest speed that nominated among the observations. In this case,
the highest speed among vehicle is in the speed group between 40km/hr to 44.9km/hr
with the number of observations 21 vehicles.

d) Standard deviation, S

∑ 𝑓𝑣 2 (∑ 𝑓𝑣)2
√ −
(𝑛 − 1) 𝑛(𝑛 − 1)

206146 41752
=√ −
(100−1) 100(100−1)

= 17.93 km/hr

a) Standard error and the adequacy of data for 95% confidence significant level
𝑆𝐷
Standard error =
√𝑛
Where: SD: standard deviation
n: number of observation
17.93
Standard error = = 1.793
√100
DISCUSSION

The study location for the spot speed study consists of one lane and the speed limit at
the road is 40 km/hr. The type of road is local street. There are 2 studies that have been
conducted which are using stopwatch and radar speed gun with different distance. The data
were taken for 100 vehicles and it can be compute into statistical analysis which are arithmetic
mean speed, median speed, modal speed and standard deviation. Other than that, it also can be
represented graphically which are frequency histogram, frequency distribution and cumulative
frequency curve. Based on the speed limit that have been recorded by using the radar speed
gun, the arithmetic mean speed is 41.75 km/hr while the median speed is 40.93km/hr. From
the cumulative frequency plotted, 15th percentile speed is 29.5 km/hr, 85th percentile speed is
48 km/hr and 98th percentile speed is 61.5 km/hr. Meanwhile, the arithmetic mean speed and
the median speed using the stopwatch is 33.25 km/hr and 32.10 km/hr. From the cumulative
frequency plotted, 15th percentile speed is 24.5 km/hr, 85th percentile speed is 38 km/hr and
98th percentile speed is 48.25 km/hr.

The accuracy of the experimental results are affected by several errors during conducted
the experiment. In this experiment, there one major source of error that somehow disturb the
result and caused inaccuracy which is human error. It might happen if conduct the experiment
inappropriate. Other than that, the difference in result between using stopwatch and radar speed
gun may be caused by the accuracy of each method. For example, using radar speed gun may
be more accurate compared to using stopwatch because we might late taking the reading or
start taking the reading too early. Some of the people that used the road have realize us when
we taking the speed reading. Therefore, they will slow down their vehicles immediately. Thus,
the result sometimes will show low of speed. Besides, there might be miscommunication
between the person who taking the reading and the person who record the reading. However,
this error can be reduced and prevented by choose a suitable place or hide during the test in
order to get a good result for example taking reading behind a car or tree. In additional, the
group members should have a good communication and come out with a plan how to tally the
result recorded and the speed reading.
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

To be concluded, spot speed studies are vital in order to establish the speed distribution
of a traffic stream at a specific site or called as basic speed data. In this study, spot speed data
are gathered using radar gun method and stopwatch method at 100 meters and 50 meters length
of road on Jalan Ilmu, UiTM Shah Alam. The study was observed for 1 hour or 100 numbers
of vehicles were travelling through the zone.

Regarding to the Figure 1.6, the speed percentile for the 15th percentile is 29.5km/hr ,
85th percentile is 48km/hr and 95th percentile is 61.5 km/hr. This shows that the speed limit
for the road is 48km/hr while the design speed is 61.5km/hr which is the maximum safe speed
for the road. The accuracy of the collected speed data is 1.793 which due to common systematic
error such as taking the fastest vehicles that may cause a bias to higher speeds in the data and
taking the speed of the bus in the sample can cause bias to lower speeds.

On the other hand, based on Figure 1.3 which the data is being observed by using
stopwatch, the speed percentile for 15th percentile is 24.5km/hr, 38km/hr for 85th percentile
and 48.25km/hr is for 98th percentile. This shows that the speed limit of the road is 38km/hr
and the design speed of the road is 48.25km/hr. Furthermore, the standard error of using
stopwatch is 0.7013, which nearly accurate than using the radar gun method. This is cause due
to some error on the radar gun method that affect the analysis data. To sum up, using stopwatch
is more accurate than using radar gun method because of the low standard error of the data.

In order to achieve the speed limit, it is recommended to put a speed limit board of
48km/hr to be established along the roads. This is to ensure the safety of the drivers and to
avoid any accidents. Other than that, by putting the speed limit board along the road, heavy
vehicle like bus need to put more speed in order to avoid delay that can affect the motion of
the 2 lanes road. In addition, since the road is in the university, it is required that the vehicles
should follow the speed limit as there are a lot of student crossing the road.
REFERENCES

http://civilengineeringlaboratory.blogspot.com/2012/02/spot-speed-study.html
http://www.ctre.iastate.edu/PUBS/traffichandbook/2SpotSpeed.pdf
http://ocw.ump.edu.my/mod/resource/view.php?id=10022
APPENDICES

Picture 1.1: The local street to Picture 1.2: Students are collecting data
conduct the spot speed study spot speed study using stopwatch

Picture 1.3: Student measuring Picture 1.4: Student is conducting the

road of 100m and 50m spot speed study using a radar gun