Transcript E1 – Teaching Kids the ABCs of Traffic Engineering

Traffic Engineering
Teaching Kids the
ABC’s of Traffic
Engineering
The Chattanooga School
Outreach Program
Traffic Engineering
Purpose of Program
•To create an appreciation of
what traffic engineers do.
•To teach kids a few things
about responsible driving.
Traffic Engineering
Ways We Outreach
to School Kids
•Elementary School Shop Tours
•Middle School Career Days
•High School Driver Training
•College Special Projects and
Teaching Transportation
Courses
Traffic Engineering
Elementary School:
Field Trip
3rd Grade Classes Tour Traffic Operations:
Electronic Shop – to learn about traffic signals
Traffic Engineering
Electronics Shop
Traffic Engineering
Elementary School:
Field Trip
3rd Grade Classes Tour Traffic Operations:
Electronic Shop – to learn about traffic signals
Meter Shop – to learn about parking meters
Traffic Engineering
Parking Meters
Traffic Engineering
Parking Meters
Traffic Engineering
Elementary School:
Field Trip
3rd Grade Classes Tour Traffic Operations:
Electronic Shop – to learn about traffic signals
Meter Shop – to learn about parking meters
Paint Shop – to learn how roads are striped
Traffic Engineering
Pavement Markings
Traffic Engineering
Elementary School:
Field Trip
3rd Grade Classes Tour Traffic Operations:
Electronic Shop – to learn about traffic signals
Meter Shop – to learn about parking meters
Paint Shop – to learn how roads are stripped
Sign Shop – to learn how signs are made
Traffic Engineering
Traffic Signs
Traffic Engineering
Elementary School:
Field Trip
3rd Grade Classes Tour Traffic Operations:
Electronic Shop – to learn about traffic signals
Meter Shop – to learn about parking meters
Paint Shop – to learn how roads are stripped
Sign Shop – to learn how signs are made
Field Work – to learn about traffic counting
Traffic Engineering
Traffic Counts
Traffic Engineering
Elementary School:
Field Trip
3rd Grade Classes Tour Traffic Operations:
Electronic Shop – to learn about traffic signals
Meter Shop – to learn about parking meters
Paint Shop – to learn how roads are stripped
Sign Shop – to learn how signs are made
Field Work – to learn about traffic counting
Field Work – to learn about radar speed studies
Traffic Engineering
Radar Speed Studies
Traffic Engineering
Elementary School:
Field Trip
3rd Grade Classes Tour Traffic Operations:
Electronic Shop – to learn about traffic signals
Meter Shop – to learn about parking meters
Paint Shop – to learn how roads are stripped
Sign Shop – to learn how signs are made
Field Work – to learn about traffic counting
Field Work – to learn about radar speed studies
City Hall – to see where parking meter money goes
Traffic Engineering
Treasurer’s Office
Traffic Engineering
Elementary School:
Field Trip
3rd Grade Classes Tour Traffic Operations:
Electronic Shop – to learn about traffic signals
Meter Shop – to learn about parking meters
Paint Shop – to learn how roads are stripped
Sign Shop – to learn how signs are made
Field Work – to learn how road tubes work
Field Work – to learn about radar speed studies
City Hall – to see where parking meter money goes
City Council – to learn how city government works
Traffic Engineering
City Council
Traffic Engineering
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Traffic Engineering
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Traffic Engineering
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Traffic Engineering
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Traffic Engineering
Middle School:
Information at Career Day
Traffic Engineering information at Career Day:
Show the glamorous life of a Traffic Engineer
Demonstrate programs used to study progression
Traffic Engineering
Middle School Career Day
Traffic Engineering
High School:
Participation in Safety Day
Traffic Engineering Presentation:
Show traffic control devices and their meanings to
new drivers
Explain how speed limits are determined
Explain the yellow cycle of traffic signals
Traffic Engineering - Safety
Traffic Safety Applications
•Traffic signals
•Intersection sight distance
•Pedestrian signals
•Red light cameras
•Pedestrian crosswalks
•Pavement safety upgrades
•Signs
•Guardrails
•Speed studies
•Neighborhood traffic calming
Traffic Engineering – Safety
Traffic Signals
Upgrade signalized
intersections to
reduce accidents.
Adjust timing.
Add left turn phases.
Change signing or
pavement marking.
Traffic Engineering – Safety
Traffic Signals
Signal Timing:
A maximum 4 sec.
amber is used, with
all red for additional
clearance time.
Traffic Engineering – Safety
Pedestrian Signals
Explain how to
use push buttons
Traffic Engineering – Safety
Pedestrian Crosswalks
Pedestrian
Crosswalks:
Pedestrian
activated flasher
and high visibility
crosswalk.
Traffic Engineering – Safety
Traffic Signs
Legibility Distance and Target Value
Stages of Sign Perception
Object Detection
“something is there”
1500 - 2500 Ft.
Color Recognition
“it is red”
900 - 1800 Ft.
Shape Recognition
“it is an octagon”
750 - 1000 Ft.
Text / Symbol Legibility
“it says stop”
STOP
150 - 400 Ft.
Traffic Signs:
Retro-Reflective
sheeting helps
communicate with
motorists to
prevent crashes,
relay information
& facilitate
uninterrupted
traffic flow.
Year
13,502
12,889
12,656
11,948
11,908
11,941
12,664
10,500
15,859
15,831
15,884
15,018
14,108
16,500
00
20
98
19
96
19
94
19
92
19
13,129
15,500
90
19
13,285
12,449
11,787
11,668
11,368
11,016
14,500
88
19
86
19
84
19
12,498
11,984
11,071
11,500
82
19
12,500
12,107
13,500
80
19
78
19
Traffic Engineering – Safety
Traffic Studies
Accident
Studies:
Total number
of Accidents
per year.
Traffic Engineering – Safety
Traffic Studies
TOP 10 HIGHEST ACCIDENT RATE LOCATIONS OF 2000
LOCATION
NO. OF ACC.
1 M.L. King Blvd at Hwy 27 exit ramp and Pine St 26
2 Hwy 153 north exit ramp to Hixson Pike north
28
3 4th Ave at E 37th St
11
4 Access Rd entrance Ramp to Hwy 153 south
40
5 E. Brainerd Rd at Hickory Valley Rd & I-75 ramp 38
6 McCallie Av at Holtzclaw Av
34
7 E 4th St at Walnut St
14
8 E 4th St at Lookout St
13
9 8th St at Georgia Av
12
10 Moore Rd at Old Mission Rd
18
*number of accidents per million vehicles entering intersection
ACC.RATE*
4.70
4.33
3.74
3.48
3.23
3.19
3.00
2.93
2.90
2.80
Traffic Engineering – Safety
Sight Distance
Sight
Distance
Triangle:
Trim hedges
for safety’s
sake.
Traffic Engineering – Safety
Sight Distance
Sight Distance:
Before
After
Traffic Engineering – Safety
Red Light Camera
Red Light
Camera:
Catch red light
runners by
taking a picture
of their car and
license plate.
Traffic Engineering – Safety
Pavement Treatment
Skid Testing:
Test pavement
friction by skid
testing.
Traffic Engineering – Safety
Pavement Treatment
Collision Diagrams:
Help determine problem
areas.
Traffic Engineering – Safety
Pavement Treatment
Non-skid pavement reduced the accident rate
Traffic Engineering – Safety
Guardrails
Guardrails:
This Extruder
End Terminal
guardrail
absorbs
energy to
reduce
injuries.
Traffic Engineering – Safety
Neighborhood Traffic Management
Neighborhood Traffic
Management
Program (NTMP):
•Traffic diverters
•Traffic islands
•Speed tables
•Textured pavement
Traffic Engineering – Safety
Neighborhood Traffic Management
NTMP Projects:
Old Mission
Traffic Circles
have reduced
speeds and
volume by
25%.
Traffic Engineering – Safety
Neighborhood Traffic Management
Intersection improvement:
Roundabouts are safer.
Traffic Engineering – Safety
• Traffic Operations –
Call 311
• Report signs down or
signal malfunctions
• Traffic Engineering –
Call 311
• Request new
installation or upgrade
• Request NTMP
Traffic Engineering
College:
Student Class Projects
Engineering students work on actual projects:
Conduct traffic counts
Conduct delay studies
Learn about right-of-way acquisition
Design intersection improvements
Traffic Engineering
College Senior Project
Traffic Engineering
College Senior Project
Traffic Engineering
In conclusion, there are many ways
that we, as professionals, can provide
outreach to the public.
Working with schools to help expose
young children to the traffic
engineering profession is just one way.
Think of ways that you can do it... and
then do it! You’ll find it a rewarding
experience.