Traffic Speed Study Report
This presentation summarises a detailed traffic speed study conducted
on the route from Shialbari Mor to Abashik Mor in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
The study was carried out by Khondoker Mahedi Hasan Mahfuj, Jakaria
Masud, Abul Hasan Milon, and Md Ariful Islam as part of their
Transportation Engineering coursework at Bangladesh University of
Business and Technology.
The objective was to analyse spot and travel speeds, evaluate traffic flow,
and assess the Level of Service (LOS) for effective traffic management and
road planning.
by mahfuj mahedi
Introduction and Objectives
Background Objectives
Traffic engineering aims to To record spot and journey
ensure safe, efficient speeds, analyse speed
movement of people and distributions, calculate key
goods. Speed influences safety, speed parameters, study
travel time, and economics. speed-flow relationships, and
This study analyses spot and assess Level of Service (LOS) for
journey speeds on a key urban the route.
corridor.
Need for Study
Speed data supports setting speed limits, improving safety,
optimising signals, designing infrastructure, and estimating
economic impacts of delays.
Literature Review and Methodology
Literature Review Methodology
Road design considers speed for geometry and safety. Spot speed measured manually using stopwatch method for
Traffic surveys collect volume, speed, and delay data. simplicity and cost-effectiveness. Travel speed measured by
manual license plate matching.
Speed types include spot, travel, free flow, and design
speed. Other methods include radar, pneumatic tubes, floating car,
Delay studies identify congestion causes and impacts. and photographic techniques.
Data Collection Process
Study Details Vehicle Types Data Collection
Route: Shialbari Mor to Abashik Auto Rickshaw, Light Vehicles, Two enumerators recorded spot
Mor, East to West direction, 30- CNG, Motorcycle, Non-Motorized speeds with stopwatch over 85
minute observation on 6 May Vehicles. feet. Travel speeds determined by
2025, sunny weather. photographing vehicle number
plates at start and end points to
calculate travel time.
Spot Speed Analysis
Speed Distribution
1 Most vehicles travel between 30-35 km/h (22.67%). Speeds below 5 mph are rare and mostly from non-motorized
vehicles.
Key Parameters
2 Modal speed is 35 km/h, pace ranges between 32-37.5 km/h, and median speed is close to 35 km/h, indicating
typical driver behaviour.
Design Speed
3
Design speed estimated at 97 km/h based on 98th percentile from cumulative frequency distribution.
Statistical and Chi-Square Analysis
Standard Deviation Chi-Square Test
Mean speed for cars is 31.57 km/h with a standard deviation Goodness of fit test confirms observed speed distribution
of 10.75 km/h, indicating moderate speed variability. matches theoretical normal distribution, validating data
reliability.
Travel Speed and Wardrop Relationship
Travel Speed Findings Wardrop Relationship
Time-mean speed exceeds space-mean speed, consistent Standard deviation and variance calculated to estimate
with Wardrop9s relationship, confirming expected traffic time-mean speed from space-mean speed, supporting
flow characteristics. traffic flow analysis.
Delay and Economic Analysis
Delay Study
Delays calculated for different vehicle classes over four hours,
revealing significant time lost due to congestion.
Cost of Delay
Total annual delay cost estimated at 33,385,971 Taka, highlighting
economic impact of traffic inefficiencies.
Benefit-Cost Ratio
Projected 20-year delay cost compared to road construction
cost yields a BCR of 9.73, indicating economic feasibility of
improvements.
Speed-Flow Curve and Level of Service
The speed-flow curve illustrates the relationship between traffic speed and flow, essential for evaluating traffic performance.
The Level of Service (LOS) analysis for the studied route indicates poor traffic conditions, with LOS classified as F, representing
forced flow and congestion.
Volume to capacity ratios and space-mean speeds were used to determine LOS, guiding recommendations for traffic
management and infrastructure improvements.
