FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA

SHAH ALAM

TITLE :

Spot Speed Study

OBJECTIVES :

a) To establish the speed distribution of a traffic stream at a specific site or called as basic speed
data.

b) To determine vehicle speed percentiles via speed trend analysis, which are useful in speed
related decision making.

THEORETICAL BACKGROUND :

Spot speeds are the vehicle speeds taken at a specified point along the roadway and the average
of such speeds is referred to as time mean speed. A spot study is carried out by recording the
speeds sample of vehicles at specified location in order to estimate the distribution of speed of
vehicles.

Spot speed data have a number of safety applications, including determine speed trends by
systematic continuous speed studies, the measurement of traffic control devices’ or traffic
programs’ effectiveness, the evaluation of speeding problems, assessing speed as a causal factor
to crashes, investigate existing parameters in respect to traffic operation and control like speed
limit, speed zones and the limits of no-passing zones, establish and/or evaluate the roadway’s
geometric design for example sight distance elements and so forth.

The data must consider whether speeds of all vehicles, including platooned vehicles or only the
speeds of unimpeded vehicles. It is impossible to obtain a radar measurement for every vehicle
under heavy traffic conditions. One may collect all speeds during the peak period for peak flow
analysis whereas the speed of unimpeded vehicle would be collected for assessing general speed
trends or for setting speed limits or assessing the impact of speed zone signing, thereby off-peak
measurement (free-flowing traffic) are more appropriate.

Study duration of one hour or a sample size of at least 100 vehicles. The radar gun is position
according to procedure specified in the user manual.

APPARATUS :

1) Radar gun
2) Measuring roller
3) Stopwatch

©FKA, UiTM, SHAH ALAM SEPTEMBER 2018

FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
SHAH ALAM

PROCEDURE :

i) The procedure for spot speed study using radar gun :

a) Necessary preparations was performed such as sufficient pens or pencils, radar meter spot
speed study data forms and clipboards, radar speed meters are in good condition, read
instructions and procedure for the used radar gun, obtain backup battery, safety vests and others.

b) Study location was decided and selected site is a STRAIGHT AND LEVEL road section that
represents different traffic conditions.

c) Enumerators were arrived 30 minutes earlier at site in order to familiarize (do visual appraisal
survey with it prior to select strategic location, distribute the equipment, fill in the general
information of the spot speed data recording forms that comprise the observer's name, time and
date of study, name of site, posted speed limit and weather condition and begin at the planned
time.

d) The layout of the study area was sketched with the description of chosen reference points,
position of observation, number of lanes and road class.

e) The enumerators, the radar unit and the station for speed data collection should be
inconspicuous where possible so that vehicular speeds are significantly not effected by the data
collection activities.

f) The samples was randomly selected, for example the observer could record a speed reading for
every third vehicle or every fifth vehicle.

g) The radar meter was made as direct a line with oncoming traffic as possible, meaning to make
it as close to the roadway as possible (an exception when the vehicles selected and radar unit
tends to affect vehicle speeds considerably.

h) The vehicle speeds was observed for duration of one hour study or 100 samples.

ii) The procedure for spot speed study using stopwatch :

a) Necessary preparations was performed such as sufficient pens or pencils, stopwatch (manual)
spot speed study data forms and clipboards, stopwatch, safety vests and others.

b) Study location was decided and selected site is a STRAIGHT AND LEVEL road section that
represents different traffic conditions.

c) Enumerators were arrived 30 minutes earlier at site in order to familiarize (do visual appraisal
survey) with it prior to select strategic location, distribute the equipment, fill in the general
information of the spot speed data recording forms that comprise the observer's name, time and
date of study, name of site, posted speed limit and weather condition and begin at the planned
time.

©FKA, UiTM, SHAH ALAM SEPTEMBER 2018

FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
SHAH ALAM

d) The layout of the study area was sketched with the description of chosen reference points,
position of observation, number of lanes and road class.

e) Two (2) reference points was selected and labelled as Start and End point with a distance of 50
meter apart (Less than 100 meter for spot speed).

f) Station two (2) observers at Start and End point.

g) Observer at starting point will give a sign to observer at end point to record the vehicle’s time
travel from start to end point (Make sure both observers are use the same vehicle’s body
reference point).

h) The other observer (Start or/and End point) recorded the plate registration number and vehicle
classification of selected vehicle.

i) The speed of vehicles were determined by using speed formula, speed = distance/time (km/hr).

©FKA, UiTM, SHAH ALAM SEPTEMBER 2018

FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
SHAH ALAM

RESULT AND ANALYSIS : i) Spot speed study using stopwatch :

Time Time
Vehicle Plate Vehicle Speed
No Difference
Registration Classification Start Finish (km/hr)
(s)
1 JSD 6353 Car 1.34 1.42 8 45.000
2 JLW 926 Car 2.08 2.25 17 21.176
3 JPL 4185 Car 2.25 2.39 14 25.714
4 WC 4143 Car 3.31 3.40 9 40.000
5 MCT 3784 Car 3.45 3.59 14 25.714
6 JSP 6672 Car 4.17 4.24 7 51.429
7 BPB 9424 Car 4.37 4.47 10 36.000
8 W4718A Car 4.50 5.08 18 20.000
9 WRM 4474 Car 5.10 5.21 11 32.727
10 DCR 755 Car 5.24 5.33 9 40.000
11 PLD 2449 Car 5.46 5.56 10 36.000
12 WVQ 6350 Car 6.02 6.10 8 45.000
13 WWD 2022 Car 6.40 6.50 10 36.000
14 WC 162 X Car 6.55 7.06 11 32.727
15 VPP 4492 Car 7.02 7.13 11 32.727
16 WMV 9616 Car 7.21 7.30 9 40.000
17 WSD 298 Car 7.34 7.40 6 60.000
18 DDF 1984 Car 7.54 8.03 9 40.000
19 RJ 1305 Car 8.16 8.30 14 25.714
20 BPH 5473 Car 8.53 9.03 10 36.000
21 WRC 7829 Car 9.07 9.20 13 27.692
22 WWX 4921 Car 9.33 9.48 15 24.000
23 WRS 3722 Car 9.40 9.51 16 22.500
24 WXG 9842 Car 9.53 9.59 6 60.000
25 WLC 2353 Car 10.37 10.53 16 22.500
26 VP 5212 Car 10.52 11.09 17 21.176
27 WWH 642 Car 11.09 11.22 13 27.692
28 AIM 138 Car 11.22 11.36 14 25.714
29 WC 7494 Car 11.45 12.00 15 24.000
30 PHU 520 Car 12.17 12.35 18 20.000
31 WC 1625 B Car 12.34 12.54 20 18.000
32 JJU 1893 Car 12.46 13.05 19 18.947
33 BPJ 611 Car 13.18 13.33 15 24.000
34 VAB 8183 Car 15.00 15. 15 15 24.000
35 AJY 1469 Car 15.13 15.30 17 21.176
36 WB 5511 Car 15.29 15.51 22 16.364
37 WYQ 2617 Car 15.42 15.58 16 22.500
38 JSD 6353 Car 15.53 16.07 14 25.714
39 WVN 9454 Car 16.19 16.40 21 17.143
40 BPP 4845 Car 16.43 17.00 17 21.176
41 WA 2439 C Car 16.58 17.14 16 22.500
42 TBX 8284 Car 17.17 17.40 23 15.652

©FKA, UiTM, SHAH ALAM SEPTEMBER 2018

FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
SHAH ALAM

43 AHQ 8034 Car 17.37 18.00 23 15.652

44 VAL 1459 Car 17.47 18.10 23 15.652
45 DDC 1958 Car 18.08 18.29 21 17.143
46 WXB 2410 Car 18.29 18.52 23 15.652
47 VAR 796 Car 18.45 19.04 19 18.947
48 BPH 2183 Car 18.53 19.14 21 17.143
49 WPP 5779 Car 19.08 18.30 22 16.364
50 WVE 196 Car 19.14 19.35 21 17.143
51 WC 5062 Car 19.44 20.03 19 18.947
52 DDF 8620 Car 19.58 20.20 22 16.364
53 BFM 6056 Car 20.05 20.27 22 16.364
54 CCS 184 Car 20.14 20.33 19 18.947
55 WXJ 2181 Car 20.28 20.50 22 16.364
56 AP 4596 Car 20.42 21.00 18 20.000
57 TBY 765 Car 21.05 21.18 13 27.692
58 WC 2430 Car 21.15 21.23 8 45.000
59 DBL 1977 Car 21.21 21.35 14 25.714
60 WB 2480 Car 21.32 21.43 11 32.727
61 JHD 3732 Car 21.40 21.56 16 22.500
62 BMR 9233 Car 22.05 22.24 19 18.947
63 JHU 7316 Car 23.01 23.13 12 30.000
64 WTY 2179 Car 23.15 23.36 21 17.143
65 RU 1540 Car 23.35 23.56 21 17.143
66 CDJ 636 Car 23.45 24.04 19 18.947
67 BKX 9089 Car 24.27 24.46 19 18.947
68 WYE 6389 Car 25.20 25.38 18 20.000
69 WYK 6229 Car 25.28 25.49 21 17.143
70 PKK 175 Car 25.43 26.00 17 21.176
71 BHT 1981 Car 26.03 26.20 17 21.176
72 AGT 3330 Car 26.13 26.30 17 21.176
73 CAR 8799 Car 26.23 26.43 20 18.000
74 CDG 7343 Car 26.37 26.55 18 20.000
75 JME 7065 Car 26.46 27.01 15 24.000
76 MEW 4927 Car 26.55 27.15 20 18.000
77 MXP 7745 Car 27.13 27.31 18 20.000
78 WB 6349 M Car 27.40 27.56 16 22.500
79 BMB 654 Car 27.51 28.06 15 24.000
80 WRE 270 Car 27.57 28.12 15 24.000
81 WFA 2589 Car 28.28 28.45 17 21.176
82 WLL 1949 Car 28.52 29.10 18 20.000
83 WRS 5566 Car 29.00 29.20 20 18.000
84 VAD 5574 Car 29.38 29.55 17 21.176
85 BMV 4816 Car 29.48 30.07 19 18.947
86 MCX 8040 Car 30.04 30.20 16 22.500
87 DDF 5620 Car 30.10 30.25 15 24.000
88 VX 8712 Car 30.23 30.35 12 30.000

©FKA, UiTM, SHAH ALAM SEPTEMBER 2018

FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
SHAH ALAM

89 BLK 626 Car 30.32 30.45 13 27.692

90 BKD 1334 Car 31.06 31.25 19 18.947
91 WHE 9001 Car 31.23 31.41 18 20.000
92 VBX 386 Car 31.41 32.00 19 18.947
93 HBB 6179 Car 31.58 32.17 19 18.947
94 VN 4138 Car 32.21 32.32 11 32.727
95 WC6172 Car 32.45 32.58 13 27.692
96 WA 5681 Car 33.00 33.16 16 22.500
97 NDH 6694 Car 33.18 33.30 12 30.000
98 JPF 648 Car 33.33 33.45 12 30.000
99 MCJ 6971 Car 34.38 34.52 14 25.714
100 BMK 1716 Car 35.17 35.30 13 27.692

DATE: 19/9/2018 (WEDNESDAY) DISTANCE (KM): 0.100 KM

Cumulative
Speed Mean Frequency, Percentage of
frequency Fivi Fivi2
Group Speed, vi Fi frequency (%)
(%)

15 – 19.9 17.5 31 31 31 542.5 9493.75

20 – 24.9 22.5 33 33 64 742.5 16706.25
25 – 29.9 27.5 13 13 77 357.5 9831.25
30 – 34.9 32.5 9 9 86 292.5 9506.25
35 – 39.9 37.5 4 4 90 150.0 5625.00
40 – 44.9 42.5 4 4 94 170.0 7225.00
45 – 49.9 47.5 3 3 97 142.5 6768.75
50 – 54.9 52.5 1 1 98 52.5 2756.25
55 – 59.9 57.5 0 0 98 0 0
60 – 64.9 62.5 2 2 100 125 7812.50
Total 100 2575.00 75725.00

©FKA, UiTM, SHAH ALAM SEPTEMBER 2018

FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
SHAH ALAM

Frequency Histogram
35

30

25
Frequency, Fi

20

15

10

0
15-19.9 20-24.9 25-29.9 30-34.9 35-39.9 40-44.9 45-49.9 50-54.9 55-59.9 60-64.9
Speed (km/h)

Figure 1 : Graph Frequency, F versus Speed (km/h)

Frequency Distribution Curve

40

35

30
Percentage of frequency %

25

20

15

10

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
-5
Mean Speed (km/h)

Figure 2 : Graph Percentage of Frequency (%) versus Mean Speed (km/h)

©FKA, UiTM, SHAH ALAM SEPTEMBER 2018

FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
SHAH ALAM

Figure 3 : Graph Cumulative (%) versus Mean Speed (km/h)

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS
∑ 𝑓𝑣 2575
a) Arithmetic mean speed, x = = = 25.75 km/h
𝑛 100

𝑛 100
[ − 𝑓𝑙 ] [ −31]
2 2
b) Median = L + 𝑥 𝐶 = 20 + x 4.9 =22.8 km/h
[𝑓𝑚 ] 33

c) Mode speed = 20-24.9 km/h

d) Modal speed =22.5 km/h
∑(𝑓𝑣 2 ) ∑(𝑓𝑣)2 72725 (2575)2
e) Standard deviation, s = -√ (𝑛−1) − 𝑛(𝑛−1) = √ − 100(99) = 8.05 km/h
99
8.05
f) Standard error = = 0.805 km/h
√100

©FKA, UiTM, SHAH ALAM SEPTEMBER 2018

FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
SHAH ALAM

ii) Spot speed study using radar gun :

NO SPEED (km/h) NO SPEED (km/h) NO SPEED (km/h)

1 28 41 41 81 40
2 32 42 41 82 40
3 35 43 39 83 41
4 28 44 33 84 36
5 34 45 38 85 32
6 34 46 45 86 29
7 58 47 39 87 30
8 42 48 30 88 30
9 34 49 28 89 28
10 32 50 28 90 28
11 32 51 26 91 30
12 40 52 29 92 26
13 47 53 40 93 26
14 39 54 45 94 42
15 39 55 36 95 44
16 36 56 51 96 30
17 41 57 54 97 28
18 36 58 53 98 27
19 44 59 42 99 27
20 39 60 36 100 25
21 37 61 33
22 32 62 35
23 32 63 33
24 37 64 29
25 44 65 28
26 37 66 26
27 59 67 29
28 45 68 28
29 30 69 30
30 31 70 32
31 26 71 35
32 28 72 54
33 26 73 38
34 27 74 38
35 31 75 48
36 25 76 36
37 26 77 43
38 27 78 48
39 31 79 44
40 45 80 42

©FKA, UiTM, SHAH ALAM SEPTEMBER 2018

FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
SHAH ALAM

Cumulative
Speed Mean Frequency, Percentage of
frequency Fivi Fivi2
Group Speed, vi Fi frequency (%)
(%)

25 – 29.9 27.5 27 27 27 742.5 20418.75

30 – 34.9 32.5 23 23 50 747.5 24293.75
35 – 39.9 37.5 20 20 70 750.0 28125.00
40 – 44.9 42.5 17 17 87 722.5 30706.25
45 – 49.9 47.5 7 7 94 332.5 15793.75
50 – 54.9 52.5 4 4 98 210.0 11025.00
55 – 59.9 57.5 2 2 100 115.0 6612.50
Total 100 3620.0 136975.0

©FKA, UiTM, SHAH ALAM SEPTEMBER 2018

FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
SHAH ALAM

Frequency Histogram
30

25

20
Frequency, Fi

15

10

0
25-29.9 30-34.9 35-39.9 40-44.9 45-49.9 50-54.9 55-59.9
Speed (km/h)

Figure 4 : Graph Frequency, F versus Speed (km/h)

Frequency Distribution Graph

30

25
Percentage of frequency %

20

15

10

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

Figure 5 : Graph Percentage of Frequency (%) versus Mean Speed (km/h)

©FKA, UiTM, SHAH ALAM SEPTEMBER 2018

FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
SHAH ALAM

Figure 6 : Graph Cumulative (%) versus Mean Speed (km/h)

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS
∑ 𝑓𝑣 3620
a) Arithmetic mean speed, x = = = 36.20 km/h
𝑛 100

𝑛 100
[ − 𝑓𝑙 ] [ −23]
2 2
b) Median = L + 𝑥 𝐶 = 25 + x 4.9 =29.9 km/h
[𝑓𝑚 ] 27

c) Mode speed = 25-29.9 km/h

d) Modal speed = 27.5 km/h

∑(𝑓𝑣 2 ) ∑(𝑓𝑣)2 136975 (3620)2
e) Standard deviation, s = -√ (𝑛−1) − 𝑛(𝑛−1) = √ − 100(99) =7.74 km/h
99
7.74
f) Standard error = = 0.774 km/h
√100

©FKA, UiTM, SHAH ALAM SEPTEMBER 2018

FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
SHAH ALAM

DISCUSSION :

Spot speed is the instantaneous speed of a vehicle passing a point on the roadway. The
collected data of group of vehicles can represent the speed characteristics of the entire
population of vehicles passing the specified location. The selected location was on Jalan Ilmu 1/1
in UiTM Shah Alam and the study was conducted during peak hour from 4.45 p.m. till 5.30 p.m.
This spot speed activity was being conducted along the 100m straight road in front of the
treasurer’s office to collect and analyze 100 data of vehicle speed so that the traffic pattern can
be produced in terms of tabulation data, graphical and calculation. The type of vehicles, we
decided to focus on cars to minimize from mistakes.

From the manual method, frequency histogram in figure 1.1 shows the mode speed is 20-
24.9 (km/hr) with the highest frequency. For the frequency distribution graph in figure 1.2, the
modal speed obtained is 22.5km/hr. Besides, there are P15th (disturbance speed), P85th (speed
limit) and P98th(design speed) percentile speeds obtained from the cumulative frequency graph
in figure 1.3 which are 15.90km/hr, 31.80km/hr, and 52.90km/hr respectively. From the
calculation that has been calculated based on the results, the arithmetic mean speed obtained is
25.75km/hr and for the standard deviation it is 8.05km/hr. The last one will be the standard error
which is 0.805km/hr.

From the radar gun experiment, the frequency histogram in figure 1.4 displays that the
mode speed is 25-29.9(km/hr) with the highest frequency. For the frequency distribution graph in
figure 1.5, the modal speed obtained is 27.5km/hr. Besides, there are P15th (disturbance speed),
P85th (speed limit) and P98th(design speed) percentile speeds obtained from the cumulative
frequency graph in figure 1.6 which are 25.50km/hr, 41.0km/hr, and 53km/hr respectively.
Through the calculation that was done, the arithmetic mean speed obtained is 25.75km/hr and
for the standard deviation is 7.74km/hr. The last one will be the standard error which is
0.774km/hr.

There are many factor that influence the observation of speed that has been made which
is the driver factor such as age and distance of trip. Other than that, the vehicle factors like the
type, age, size, horsepower product of the vehicle. Next, the roadway facilities such as
geographical location, grade, class of road, number of lanes, frequency and spacing of
intersection. The traffic volume and composition also affect the speed of traffic. However, the
factor that can affect the speed of traffic also can cause by the environmental factors such as time
of day and weather. The peak hour of the day can cause the traffic more congestion and at the
same time make the speed of the traffic even slow than usual.

Moreover, there are maybe some errors occur during conduct the observation of spot
speed study in Jalan Ilmu 1/1, UiTM Shah Alam . The result obtained using stopwatch could not be
taken as accurate because of manual method of collecting data. High chances of human errors
due to capabilities of human. Besides, manual method requires at least two person to record the
time in and time out. The time to start and end might not be same with each other, and it affects
the accuracy of the result.

©FKA, UiTM, SHAH ALAM SEPTEMBER 2018

FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
SHAH ALAM

Other than that, the users that used the road maybe know that their speed are being
recorded, so they may decide to slow down their vehicles. So, the speed record during the
observation maybe not exactly as the real speed that users are always did. It was also during peak
hour when the spot speed study was conducted, thus resulting the vehicles to be slow and traffic
congestion to occur at the road.

CONCLUSION :

By doing this observation, we are able to establish the speed distribution of a traffic stream at
Jalan Ilmu 1/1, UiTM Shah Alam. Furthermore, we also able to determine vehicle speed
percentiles via speed trend analysis, which are useful in speed related in decision making. The 85th
percentile speed of vehicle passing Jalan Ilmu 1/1 was found to be 41 km/hr. This means that 85%
of vehicles were travelling within 41 km/hr and the rest of 15% was exceeded 41 km/hr. From the
data collected, only 15% of vehicles travelling within 25 km/hr and have followed speed limit that
has been set by UiTM. We can conclude that many users that used this road are breaking the rules
that has been stated by the UiTM authorities which is the limit speed of the vehicle is 25km/hr.
Lastly, we can conclude that the objective of this laboratory was achieved.

REFERENCES :

1) An Evaluation Of 85th operating Speed and Posted Speed Limit Based on Horizontal, Vertical
Alignments and Traffic Conditions: Case Study Of Two Lane Urban Roadway,
Azim Bakar-Mohamad Rani-Rozlinda Mohamed-Nur Sani-Nurjannah Jalal-Muhammad Adnan
Tuan Badrol Hisham Bin Tuan Besar. Retrieved from
https://uitm.pure.elsevier.com/en/publications/an-evaluation-of-85supthsupoperating speed
and-posted-speed-limit

©FKA, UiTM, SHAH ALAM SEPTEMBER 2018

FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
SHAH ALAM

APPENDIXES :

Figure 1 : Measuring roller

Figure 2 : Measuring the distance between the two points

©FKA, UiTM, SHAH ALAM SEPTEMBER 2018

FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
SHAH ALAM

Figure 3 : Data recording at point A

Figure 4 : Data recording at point B

©FKA, UiTM, SHAH ALAM SEPTEMBER 2018

FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
SHAH ALAM

Figure 5 : Radar gun

Figure 6 : Data record by using radar gun

©FKA, UiTM, SHAH ALAM SEPTEMBER 2018