Citation

Walker WP. Highw. Res. Board bull. 1957; 156: 27-44.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1957, National Research Council (U.S.A.), Highway Research Board)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The Committee on Operating Speeds in Urban Areas was organized for the purpose of developing a technique for measuring the speed of traffic or urban facilities on an annual average basis. Travel time data are useful in making economic appraisals of road-user costs and benefits, in predicting the diversion of traffic from old to new or improved facilities, and in other related analyses. Various methods for sampling speed or travel time have either been investigated by members of the committee or the results of other investigations examined. The merits as to accuracy, economy, and practicability of several methods for determining travel time are compared. These include: (1) license matching method, (2) floating car methods (of which there are several variations), (3) spot speed method, (4) arrival-output volume rate method, (5) interview method, and (6) photographic method. Variable conditions that affect the speed of traffic are discussed and coverage is given to the guiding principles for scheduling speed studies throughout the year so that the annual average speed on a facility may be determined.