At head of title: National Cooperative Highway Research Program.

This report documents the results of an examination of the passing sight distance standards in A Policy. on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets, published by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), and the current sight distance requirements for marking passing and no-passing zones cited in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). Relevant findings in the available literature are summarized. The current AASHTO design standards and MUTCD marking standards related to passing sight distance on two-lane highways are described. Issues related to the current standards and practices are identified and discussed. This includes the results of a meeting of knowledgeable authorities. Finally, three experimental plans that address three selected, critical issues are presented. These include (i) an accident-based analysis of current practices, (2) a field-based observational study of passing behavior to determine the adequacy of the current standards, and (3) a field-based observational study of passing behavior to determine if the minimum passing zone length of 400 ft (122 m) implied in the MUTCD is inadequate and to determine what the minimum, passing zone length should be. These three plans may serve as a basis for future research.

Get a complete look into modern traffic engineering solutions Traffic Engineering Handbook, Seventh Edition is a newly revised text that builds upon the reputation as the go-to source of essential traffic engineering solutions that this book has maintained for the past 70 years. The updated content reflects changes in key industry standards, and shines a spotlight on the needs of all users, the design of context-sensitive roadways, and the development of more sustainable transportation solutions. Additionally, this resource features a new organizational structure that promotes a more functionally-driven, multimodal approach to planning, designing, and implementing transportation solutions. A branch of civil engineering, traffic engineering concerns the safe and efficient movement of people and goods along roadways. Traffic flow, road geometry, sidewalks, crosswalks, cycle facilities, shared lane markings, traffic signs, traffic lights, and more—all of these elements must be considered when designing public and private sector transportation solutions. Explore the fundamental concepts of traffic engineering as they relate to operation, design, and management Access updated content that reflects changes in key industry-leading resources, such as the Highway Capacity Manual (HCM), Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), AASSHTO Policy on Geometric Design, Highway Safety Manual (HSM), and Americans with Disabilities Act Understand the current state of the traffic engineering field Leverage revised information that homes in on the key topics most relevant to traffic engineering in today's world, such as context-sensitive roadways and sustainable transportation solutions Traffic Engineering Handbook, Seventh Edition is an essential text for public and private sector transportation practitioners, transportation decision makers, public officials, and even upper-level undergraduate and graduate students who are studying transportation engineering.

Sight distance is an important consideration in roadway design, affecting many aspects of highway safety and operations. Ramp, interchange, and intersection designs are typically completed in tightly constrained spaces with many structural, earthwork, and roadway features present that may obstruct sight distance. These features are not easily moved; if consideration of sight distance constraints is not given early in the design process, designs may be compromised and a reduced level of safety may be encountered by the public on the completed roadway. After conducting a literature review of design criteria, three case studies of interchange ramps, and a thorough review of the TxDOT Design Division Operations and Procedures Manual, recommended revisions were prepared for the manual. These revisions include material intended to clarify and extend the consideration of sight distance in roadway design.