Important Sight Distances

1. Stopping
Sight Distances 2. Decision
3. Passing
Distance a driver can see ahead at any specific time
4. Intersection
Must allow sufficient distance for a driver to
perceive/react and stop, swerve etc when necessary 5. C
Crossing
i RR

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GB Question GB Question
„ Sight distance assumes drivers are traveling „ Stopping sight distance is composed of two
at: distances, what are they?
„ A. The posted speed limit „ Distance traveled during perception/reaction
„ B. 10 mph above the speed limit time
„ C. The 85% ppercentile spot
p speed
p of the „ Distance required to brake (stop) vehicle
facility
„ D. The design speed of the facility

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GB Question Stopping Sight Distance (SSD)
„ AASHTO GB recommends 2.5 2 5 seconds,
seconds
z Required for every point along
this is adequate for conditions that are more alignment (horizontal and
complex than the simple conditions used in vertical) – Design for it, or sign
laboratory and road tests, but is not for lower, safe speed
adequate for what? z Available SSD = f(roadway
alignment objects off the
alignment,
„ Is not adequate for the most complex alignment, object on road height
conditions encountered in actual driving. z SSD = PRD + BD (with final
velocity V2 = 0)

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Criteria for Sight Distance

„ Driver eye height: for passenger vehicle’s
vehicle s = Stopping (emergency)
3.5 ft above surface – SSD (Table 3-1)
„ Height of object in roadway = 2 feet (SSD)
– why?
„ Height of opposing vehicle = 3.5 feet (PSD)

Source: A Policy on Geometric Design of

Highways and Streets (The Green Book).
Washington, DC. American Association of
State Highway and Transportation Officials,
7 2001 4th Ed. 8

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 Decision Sight Distance
• When
Wh situation
i i is i unexpectedd or driver
di makes
k unusuall Decision
maneuvers or under difficult to perceive situations (controlled stop, speed/path/route
change) – DSD (Table 3-3)
• Requires higher P/R time
• Depends on type of maneuver made and roadway
Source: A
setting (urban vs. rural) Policy on
Geometric
Design of
Highways
and Streets
(The Green
Book).
Washingto
n, DC.
American
Association
of State
Highway
and
Transportat
ion
Officials,
2001 4th
9 Ed. 10

Important Sight Distances

(cont.)
Intersection (turning/crossing)
- see Ch 9 of GB

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