Average Daily Traffic (ADT)

The volume during a given time period (in the whole days greater than one day but less than one
year) divided by the number of days in that time period and expressed in terms of veh/day.
ADT = Volume during a given time period
Number of days

Average Annual Daily Traffic (AADT)

It is the total yearly volume divided by the number of days in a year.
AADT = Total Yearly Volume
Number of days (year)

Design Hourly Volume (DHV)

It is the economic hourly flow of future year, which is used for designing geometric features of
roadway.
Design Vehicle
The vehicle whose weight, dimensions and operating characteristics are used to established the
geometric standards of the highway
Design Speed
The design speed is defined as the maximum safe speed that can be maintained over a specified
section of highway when conditions are so favorable that the design features of highway govern
Highway Capacity
The capacity of a given section of roadway may defined as the maximum hourly rate at which
vehicle can reasonably travel a point or uniform section of roadway during a given period under
prevailing roadway, traffic and control conditions
Level of Service (LOS)
Level of service is a qualitative measure that describes operational condition within a traffic
stream and their perception by road users.
Lane width usually vary from
10 ft to 12 ft for high speed highways
9 ft to 10 ft for low speed highways
Median
A median is the section of a divided highway that separates the lanes in opposing directions

Right of Way
The right of way is the total land area acquired for the construction of the highway

Roadway Furniture
Physical devices which is used to control and guide motorist, prevent vehicles from leaving the
roadway and crossing into wrong side, facilitated drainage.
For example:
Median and roadside barrier, guardrails/ Guard post, Curbs and Gutters, Island/Channel, Sign, signal,
light post
Saturation Flow
The maximum hourly rate of an approach at a signalized junction/ the maximum rate of discharge
for a particular approach
Induced Flow
Flow that is generated because of new or improved roadway facility
Stable/Steady Flow
When demand is at or near or exceeds the roadway capacity and the average rate of flow remains
almost constant with time.

Forced Flow
When land changing opportunity decreases with increasing traffic volume and drivers are forced
to follow slow leaders.

Passenger Car Equivalent (PCE)

It is the method of expressing various types of vehicles having different characteristics in a
common equivalent unit. One car is considered as one unit.

In respect to its road occupancy and operational requirements each type of vehicle is equivalent to
a number of passenger cars and this is called the Passenger Car Equivalent.

Amber period/Clearance time (a)

To allow vehicles to clear the junction (usually 3 seconds)
Inter-green period (I)
The time from the end of the green period of the phase losing right-of-way to the beginning of the
green period
Optimum Cycle Length (Co)
The cycle time which gives the least average delay to all vehicles using the intersection

Lost Time (L)

The time which is effectively lost to traffic movement in a phase because of starting delays and
the falling-off discharge rate during the amber period

Effective Green Time (G)

The time during the cycle when the traffic flows freely discharge through green aspect at the
maximum rate
All red period
A red period between the amber and red-amber shown to all approaches in order to allow vehicles
to clear the junction safely before starting the next phase

Spot Speed
Instantaneous speed of a vehicle at a point

Running Speed
Average speed while in motion

Journey Speed
Overall speed including stop

Operating Speed
The highest overall speed

Free Flow Speed

When drivers face no restriction in driving and can maintain their desired speeds

Safe Speed
 The speed below 85% vehicle move (85th percentile speed)

Design Speed
The speed below 98% vehicle move (98th percentile speed)

Median Speed
The speed below 50% vehicle move (50th percentile speed)

Modal Speed
Speed at the highest frequency

Pace
It is a range of speed (usually taken in 10 mph or 15 kmph increment)

Speed Limits
Upper limit at 85th percentile speed
Lowe limit at 15th percentile speed