Design speed of a highway is the maximum speed that a vehicle can safely travel under perfect conditions. It considers the classification of the road, traffic volume, and actual operating speed. However, bad weather and heavy traffic affect the safe speed of a road.
The design speed of a highway is the maximum speed that a vehicle can safely travel on that highway under perfect conditions. It is created based on the class the road is in, the conditions of the road itself, and the conditions of the surrounding terrain. Other factors are also taken into account, such as the maximum speed allowed by law. Although the design speed is created for safety, it is important to remember that this speed is only safe under perfect conditions. Heavy traffic and bad weather affect how quickly a driver can travel safely along a given road.
When choosing the design speed for a road, many factors must be considered in addition to the condition of the road itself. If the road tends to have a high volume of traffic, the speed is adjusted to account for this. The actual operating speed of the road is also considered. Actual operating speed is how fast traffic generally moves, regardless of what the legal speed limit is for the highway.
When considering the design speed of a highway, the classification of the highway is taken into account. Roads fall into one of three classifications: local roads, collector roads, and arterial roads. Local roads are those that are used by local traffic on a daily basis and generally have a slower speed limit. Arterial roads have the fastest speed and are designed for drivers who travel long distances. Collector roads are designed to connect local roads with arterial roads and have a speed that falls somewhere in between.
The design speed does not cover all vehicles on the road. Cars, for example, can travel faster than tractors. Signs often list the maximum speed limit for cars and may list a slower speed for tractor-trailers. This is especially common in areas with steep hills or sharp turns.
The weather is another factor to consider when driving. Although the design speed covers clear road conditions with no restricted visibility, rain or snow can often make a road slippery and obscure the driver’s vision. When bad weather occurs, drivers should go slower than the posted speed limit and allow extra space between cars for braking.
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