SSD PSD PDF
SSD PSD PDF
Sight distance required by drivers applies to geometric designs of highways and for
traffic control.
Three types of sight distances are considered in the design
• Stopping Sight Distance (SSD) or absolute minimum sight distance
• Safe Overtaking Sight Distance (OSD) or Passing Sight Distance
• Safe Sight Distance for entering into uncontrolled intersections.
Apart from the three situations mentioned above, the following sight distances are
considered by the IRC in highway design
• Intermediate Sight Distance
• Head Light Sight Distance
STOPPING SIGHT DISTANCE (SSD)
• Reaction time of the driver is the time taken from the instant the object is
visible to the driver to the instant the brakes are effectively applied.
• The actual time gap or the reaction time of the driver depends on several
factors.
• During this period of time the vehicle travels a certain distance at the original
speed, which may be assumed to be the design speed of the road.
• Thus, the stopping distance increases with increase reaction time of the
driver.
The total reaction time (t) may be split up into two parts
Perception Time
• It is the time required for a driver to realise that brakes must be
applied.
• It is the time from the instant the object comes on the line of sight of
the driver to the instant he realises that the vehicle needs to be
stopped.
• The perception time varies from driver to driver and also depends on
several other factors such as the distance of object and other
environmental conditions.
Brake Reaction Time
It is also depending on several factors including the skill of the driver, the
type of the problems and various other environmental factors.
The total reaction time may be explained with the help of PIEV theory.
PIEV THEORY
According to PIEV theory, the total reaction time of the driver is
split into four parts, time taken by the driver for
1) Perception
2) Intellection
3) Emotion
4) Volition
Reaction Time and PIEV Theory
SAMPLE PROBLEMS
Passing Sight Distance (PSD) is the minimum sight distance that is required on a
highway, generally a two-lane, two-directional one, that will allow a driver to pass
another vehicle without colliding with a vehicle in the opposing lane. This distance
also allows the driver to abort the passing maneuver if desired.
SAMPLE PROBLEMS
The End