Stopping Sight Distance for Horizontal
Surfaces
By: Engr. Mark Joren Crisologo
introduction
Insufficient sight distance and limited forward visibility can adversely affect
safety and increases the risk of acollision by reducing reaction and stopping
distances. Adequate sight distance provides drivers with sufficient time to
identify and appropriately react to all elements of the road environment,
including other road users and hazards. Sight distances are particularly
important in areas where pedestrians and bicyclists are known to cross the
road.
Sight Distance
It is the length of roadway visible to the driver.
Stopping Sight Distance (SSD)
It is the minimum sight distance available on a highway at any spot
having sufficient length to enable the driver to stop a vehicle traveling at
design speed, safely without collision with anyother obstruction.
4
Factors affecting Stopping Sight Distance
(SSD)
• Total reaction time of driver
• Speed of Vehicle
• Efficienct of Brakes
• Frictional Resistance Between
Road and Tire
• Gradient of Road
4
Total Reaction Time of Driver
It is the time taken from the instant the object is visible to the
driver to the instant the brake is effectively applied, it divided
into two types
Perception Reaction Time
It is the time from the instant the object comes on the line of
sight of the driver to the instant he realizes that the vehicle
needs to be stopped.
Brake Reaction Time
The brake reaction depends on several factor including the
skill of the driver, the type of the problems and various other
environment factor. 4
PIEV Theory
PIEV THEORY was proposed to provide detailed account of driver’s reaction. PIEV is the
amount of time it takes a driver to react to a hazard. Total reaction time of driver is split
into four parts:
PERCEPTION
Is the time required for the sensations received by the eyes or ears of the driver to be
transmitted to the brain through the nervous system and spinal cord or it is the time
required to perceive an object or situation.
INTELLECTION
Is the time required for the driver to understand the situation, it is also the time
required for comparing the different thoughts.
PIEV Theory
PIEV THEORY was proposed to provide detailed account of driver’s reaction. PIEV is the
amount of time it takes a driver to react to a hazard. Total reaction time of driver is split
into four parts:
Emotion
Is the time elapsed during emotional sensational and other mental disturbance such
as fear, anger or any other emotional feeling superstition.
Volition
Is the time taken by the driver for the final action such as brake application.
REACTION DISTANCE
The distance a vehicle travels from the moment a
driver sees the object until the driver applies
brakes.
𝑹. 𝑫 = 𝑽𝒕
BRAKING DISTANCE 𝑺𝑺𝑫 = 𝑹𝑫 + 𝑩𝑫
The distance a vehicle travels from the moment 𝑽𝟐
𝑺𝑺𝑫 = 𝑽𝒕 +
the brakes are applied until the vehicle come to a 𝟐𝒈(𝒇+𝑮)
complete stop. Where:
V = velocity in m/sec
𝑽𝟐𝒊 −𝑽𝟐𝒇 𝑽𝟐
𝑩. 𝑫 = = t = Perception-Reaction Time
𝟐𝒈(𝒇+𝑮) 𝟐𝒈(𝒇+𝑮)
F = coefficient of friction between tires and pavements
G = average grade of roadway
problem 1
The driver of a car traveling at a certain speed suddenly sees an obstruction ahead
and traveled a distance of 58.3 m during the reaction time of 1.3 seconds.
Determine the car’s speed of approach in kph.
Answer:
161.45 kph
problem 2
Determine the minimum stopping sight distance on a -3.5% grade for a design
speed of 110 kph. Coefficient of friction between tires and pavement is 0.28.
Driver’s reaction time (including perception time) is 2.5 sec
Answer:
270.69 m
problem 3
While descending a -7% grade at a speed of 90 kph, George notices a large object
in the roadway ahead of him. Without thinking about any alternatives, George
stabs his brakes and begins to slow down. Assuming that George is so paralyzed
with fear that won’t engage in an avoidance maneuver, calculate the minimum
distance at which George must have seen the object in order to avoid colliding
with it. You can assume that the roadway surface is concrete and that the surface
is wet (coefficient of friction is 0.29). You can also assume that George has a brake
reaction time of 0.9 seconds because he is always alert on this stretch of the road.
Answer:
167.30 m
problem 4
Determine the minimum stopping sight distance on a -3.5% grade for a design
speed of 110 kph. Coefficient of friction between tires and pavement is 0.28.
Driver’s reaction time (including perception time) is 2.5 sec.
Answer:
270.69 m
problem 5
A car moving at 80 kph on a level road suddenly sees an obstruction 76 meters
ahead. If the perception-reaction time is 0.5 sec. and the coefficient of friction
between the tires and the pavement is 0.4, how far from the obstruction will it
stop?
Answer:
1.98 m
problem 6
A driver traveling at 50 mph is 80 meters from a wall ahead. If the driver applies
the brakes immediately after perception time of 2 seconds and begins slowing the
vehicle at 10 m/sec^2 , find the distance from the stopping point to the wall.
Answer:
10.32 m
Homework
Problem 1
A car traveling at 70 kph requires 48 m to stop after the brakes have been applied. What average
coefficient of friction was developed between the tires and pavement.
Problem 2
A vehicle moving at 80 kph up a 4% incline was stopped by applying brakes. If the coefficient of friction
between the tires and the pavement is 0.30, compute the distance traveled by the vehicle before it
stopped.
Problem 3
Vehicles often travel city streets adjacent to parking lanes at 56 kph or faster. At his speed and setting
detection through response-initiation time for an alert driver at 2 sec and f = 0.50, how far must the driver
be away from a suddenly opened car door to avoid striking it?
