Question

Speed and Delay study is conducted by which of the following method / instrument:
1. Floating car method
2. Workspot interview method
3. Doppler Radar
4. Electronic Detector

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 1 : Floating car method

Concept:

• Fast-moving car method (or Floating Car Method or Moving Observer Method): In this method, a test vehicle is driven a number of times through a pre-selected stretch of a route at an approximately average speed of the stream to find out journey speed, time and location of the delay. In traffic engineering, this method is used in speed and delay studies.

• Enoscope: This is a device that is an L-shaped mirror box, open at both ends with a mirror set at 45° angle to the arm of the device. This device is almost a ‘half-periscope’. Using an Enoscope an observer can measure the spot speed of different vehicles. In traffic engineering, this device is used in spot speed studies.
• Radar Speed Meter: The radar speed meter is a pre-calibrated device that directs a radar or an audio beam of a certain frequency to moving vehicles to record and display their spot speed. In this device, there is a frequency difference in the signal transmitted and the signal received which is proportional to the speed of the vehicle. In traffic engineering, this device is used in spot speed studies.
• Traffic Contours (or Traffic Flow Map): It is the contour map of all traffic volumes plotted for a certain region and for a particular time frame to find out traffic flow patterns and behavior. This traffic contour helps in designing and evaluating the efficiency of different components of a traffic management system. In traffic engineering, this map is used in traffic volume studies.