Chapter 10

TRAFFIC ENGINEERING
TRAFFIC ENGINEERING

I. ROAD TRAFFIC SIGNS

The importance of road signs have been recognized world wide because of
the increasing incidence of road accidents due to the volume of traffic and bad
habits of motor vehicle drivers.

A United Nations Conference on Road Traffic was held in Vienna,

Australia on October 7, November 8, 1968 under the auspices of UNESCO. The
participating countries including the Philippines agreed on the Road Traffic
conference to have a seperate convention for Road Signs and Signals as necessary
to facilitate international road traffic and increase road safety.

After more than 20 years, although majority of the world countries have
already applied the recommendations of the Vienna, Convention, some countries
like USA and the Philippines have still difficulties in implementing the
international traffic system.

The three efficacy principles of Uniformity, Homegeneity, Simplicity are not

being inforced. Instead, a very complicated mixture of international and US rules
are adopted which leads to misunderstanding and consequently non-respect of the
rules.

Uniformity – includes the prohibition to use unofficial signs and markings.

Homogeneity – requires that in the same condition, the user notices signs or
marking with same value, same importance and located according to
the same rules.

Simplicity – is to avoid superabundance of signs which over strain the

driver having a tendency to neglect the given instructions.
Sometimes the driver cannot read, understand, or register the
meaning of signs and markings.

Road Signs has the following Objectives

1. To lead to safest road traffic

2. To facilitate this traffic

 3. To indicate or to remind some particular traffic rules

4. To inform the drivers how to use the highway

The Different Categories of Signaling Devices are:

1. Road traffic signs

2. Road traffic signals

3. Pavement markings

4. Guide posts and delineators

Road signs are classified into the following categories :

1. Danger warning signs

2. Intersection signs

3. Prescription signs

a. Prohibitive

b. Obligation

4. General Information signs

5. Direction signs

6. Agglomeration signs

7. Railway crossing signs

8. Temporary signs (on road works)

9. Special instruction signs

Visibility and Legibility

Signaling devices whether horizontal or vertically installed has ther

following objectives:

1. To inform,
 2. To prevent,

3. To guide

4. Act as Faison agents between the driver and the highway alignment.

At night, drivers has no complete view of the highway environment. His

only guide is the headlight. Thus, the road signs and signaling must be effective at
night. Accidents revealed that for the same traffic, the percentage of fatalities
during night accidents is double than that during day time. The difference can be
explained only by the modification of one factor – Visibilty.

To be effective , road signs and signaling must be visible, readable and

must take into account the human eye limit which is not adapted to night driving.
 Visibility and Legibility of a road sign or of a pavement markings are
dependent on three parameters :

1. The detection

2. The identification

3. The reading

Detection – is the minimum area, contrasting with the environment which is

perceptible by the human eye.

Identification – is the analysis of the form and color of the sign which
permits to determine its message it conveys.

The reading – is the fundamental role of a sign which confirm in alpha-

numerical language or by a symbol the information to be transmitted to
the driver.

Table 1. STANDARD FORM AND SIZE OF ROAD SIGNS

IN CENTIMETERS

Circle
Type Triangle sides Octagon Width Square Side
Diameter
Very Big 150 125 120 105
Big Size 125 105 100 90
Normal Size 100 85 80 70
Small Size 70 65 60 50
Very Small 50 45 40 35

The small type signs are used only when some difficulties avoid the
implementation of the normal type such as line of trees, mountainous road,
reduced shoulders, small sidewalks etc. The very small type is used exceptionally
in cities to satisfy aesthetical considerations.
II. BASIC PRINCIPLES OF ROAD SIGNS

The basic principles of road signs is that, it must be clearly perceived by the
drivers moving at relatively high speed whose attention is solicited by the driving
requirements. To be useful, road signs must be efficient according to the
following:

1. Valorization Principles

2. Concentration Principles

3. Legibility Principles

Valorization Principles – means to use only the needed and useful signs.
Too many road signs lessen its efficiency.

Concentration Principles – the signs must be set on the same post when the
two indications relating to the same point are complementary. For
instance , traffic signals ahead and pedestrian.

Legibility Principles – the indications or analogic messages should be

reduced and if necessary, the road signs should be properly
distributed. Experienced proved that a mean or average observer
cannot see and understand at a glance more than two symbols.

III. WARNING (DANGER) SIGN

Warning Sign is used to warm traffic of potentially hazardous conditions on

or adjacent to the roadway. Warning sign is always Triangular in shape with one
vertical angle and a dark blue symbol, two borders one white and red with
reflectorized white background.

There is no exception to this rule and the use of yellow color for
background is strictly prohibited for permanent signs. The yellow color is reserved
only for temporary signals used during road construction or maintenance work.