TYPES OF TRAFFIC SURVEY STUDIES (Continuation):

4. TRAFFIC CAPACITY STUDIES

 Traffic Capacity
-It can be defined as the ability of a road to accommodate the traffic volume.
It is expressed as the maximum number of vehicles on a road that pass a given
point per hour.
 The capacity of a road is affected by the following factors:
a) Width of the lane. The capacity is directly proportional to the width of the lane.
b) Lateral clearance. The decrease in lateral clearance of the road reduces the
ease in the movement of the vehicle and chances of accident increase. To
safeguard the capacity of the road a minimum clearance of 1.85 m from the
edge of the road to the obstruction is essential.
c) Width of shoulders. Lesser the width of shoulder, lesser the freedom of
movement. In case, any damaged vehicle is parked on the shoulder, it reduces
the capacity of the road.
d) Type of vehicles. Generally commercial vehicles have more width and weight.
Hence their speed is low. Thus commercial vehicles reduce the capacity of the
road.

5. PARKING STUDIES
 Parking studies are useful to evaluate the facilities available.
 Following aspects should be investigated during parking studies:
 Parking Demand
- The parking demand can be evaluated by different methods:
a) By counting the number of vehicles parked in area under study
during different periods of the day. By noting the registration
number of each parked vehicle at 30 minutes or one hour interval,
it is possible to estimate the duration of parking of each vehicle at
the parking area. This method is useful when the parking demand is
less than the area available.
 b) Another method is to interview the drivers of the parked vehicles
and other vehicle owners of the area. This method is useful when
the demand is higher than the available area in the study locality.
c) By doing the cordon counts of selected area and recording
accumulation of vehicles during the peak hours by subtracting the
outgoing vehicles from the incoming vehicles.
 Parking Characteristics
- The study is directed to note the present parking practices prevalent in
the area under consideration and general problems in parking.
 Parking Space
- The area under study is fully surveyed and a map is prepared showing all
details of space where curb parking and off street parking facilities can be
provided to meet the parking demand.
• Curb Parking- the vehicles are parked on the curbs
• Off street parking- these are the parking places away from the streets.

6. ACCIDENT STUDIES
 Traffic accidents may involve personal injuries, fatal casualties and damage to
property etc.
 The various objectives of the accident studies may be listed as:
a) To study the causes of accidents and to suggest remedial measures for the
potential locations.
b) To check the existing designs and put forth suggestions for the proposed
designs.
c) To make estimates of financial losses and to justify the proposals for
improvements and to demonstrate the improvement in the accident
problem.
 Main Causes of Accidents:
a) Deficiency in vehicle
b) Deficiency or defective pavement
c) Violation of traffic rules
d) Surprise element
e) Lack of proper lighting
REFERENCES:
• https://www.scribd.com/presentation/141411968/Traffic-Survey
• https://www.slideshare.net/TheRealAkansha/traffic-engineering-42931305