Teaching Kids the ABC’s of Traffic
Engineering
The Chattanooga School Outreach Program
Traffic EngineeringTraffic EngineeringTraffic EngineeringTraffic Engineering
Traffic EngineeringTraffic EngineeringTraffic EngineeringTraffic Engineering
Purpose of Program•To create an appreciation
of what traffic engineers do.
•To teach kids a few things about responsible driving.
Ways We Outreach
to School Kids
Traffic EngineeringTraffic EngineeringTraffic EngineeringTraffic Engineering
•Elementary School Shop Tours•Middle School Career Days•High School Driver Training•College Special Projects and Teaching Transportation
Courses
Elementary School:Field Trip
3rd Grade Classes Tour Traffic Operations:
Electronic Shop – to learn about traffic signals
Traffic EngineeringTraffic EngineeringTraffic EngineeringTraffic Engineering
Electronics Shop
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Elementary School:Field Trip
3rd Grade Classes Tour Traffic Operations:
Electronic Shop – to learn about traffic signals
Traffic EngineeringTraffic EngineeringTraffic EngineeringTraffic Engineering
Meter Shop – to learn about parking meters
Parking Meters
Traffic EngineeringTraffic EngineeringTraffic EngineeringTraffic Engineering
Parking Meters
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Elementary School:Field Trip
3rd Grade Classes Tour Traffic Operations:
Electronic Shop – to learn about traffic signalsMeter Shop – to learn about parking meters
Traffic EngineeringTraffic EngineeringTraffic EngineeringTraffic Engineering
Paint Shop – to learn how roads are striped
Pavement Markings
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Elementary School:Field Trip
3rd Grade Classes Tour Traffic Operations:
Electronic Shop – to learn about traffic signalsMeter Shop – to learn about parking metersPaint Shop – to learn how roads are stripped
Traffic EngineeringTraffic EngineeringTraffic EngineeringTraffic Engineering
Sign Shop – to learn how signs are made
Traffic Signs
Traffic EngineeringTraffic EngineeringTraffic EngineeringTraffic Engineering
Elementary School:Field Trip
3rd Grade Classes Tour Traffic Operations:
Electronic Shop – to learn about traffic signalsMeter Shop – to learn about parking metersPaint Shop – to learn how roads are strippedSign Shop – to learn how signs are made
Traffic EngineeringTraffic EngineeringTraffic EngineeringTraffic Engineering
Field Work – to learn about traffic counting
Traffic Counts
Traffic EngineeringTraffic EngineeringTraffic EngineeringTraffic Engineering
Elementary School:Field Trip
3rd Grade Classes Tour Traffic Operations:
Electronic Shop – to learn about traffic signalsMeter Shop – to learn about parking metersPaint Shop – to learn how roads are strippedSign Shop – to learn how signs are madeField Work – to learn about traffic counting
Traffic EngineeringTraffic EngineeringTraffic EngineeringTraffic Engineering
Field Work – to learn about radar speed studies
Radar Speed Studies
Traffic EngineeringTraffic EngineeringTraffic EngineeringTraffic Engineering
Elementary School:Field Trip
3rd Grade Classes Tour Traffic Operations:
Electronic Shop – to learn about traffic signalsMeter Shop – to learn about parking metersPaint Shop – to learn how roads are strippedSign Shop – to learn how signs are madeField Work – to learn about traffic countingField Work – to learn about radar speed studies
Traffic EngineeringTraffic EngineeringTraffic EngineeringTraffic Engineering
City Hall – to see where parking meter money goes
Treasurer’s Office
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Elementary School:Field Trip
3rd Grade Classes Tour Traffic Operations:
Electronic Shop – to learn about traffic signalsMeter Shop – to learn about parking metersPaint Shop – to learn how roads are strippedSign Shop – to learn how signs are madeField Work – to learn how road tubes workField Work – to learn about radar speed studiesCity Hall – to see where parking meter money goes
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City Council – to learn how city government works
City Council
Traffic EngineeringTraffic EngineeringTraffic EngineeringTraffic Engineering
Positive
Feedback
Traffic EngineeringTraffic EngineeringTraffic EngineeringTraffic Engineering
Positive
Feedback
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Positive
Feedback
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Positive
Feedback
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Middle School:Information at Career
Day Traffic Engineering information at Career
Day:
Traffic EngineeringTraffic EngineeringTraffic EngineeringTraffic Engineering
Show the glamorous life of a Traffic Engineer
Demonstrate programs used to study progression
Middle School Career Day
Traffic EngineeringTraffic EngineeringTraffic EngineeringTraffic Engineering
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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
•Pedestrian signals
•Pedestrian crosswalks
•Signs
•Speed studies
•Intersection sight distance
•Red light cameras
•Pavement safety upgrades
•Guardrails
•Neighborhood traffic calming
Traffic Engineering – SafetyTraffic Signals
Upgrade signalizedintersections to reduce accidents.
Adjust timing.
Add left turn phases.
Change signing or pavement marking.
Signal Timing:
A maximum 4 sec. amber is used, with all red for additional clearance time.
Traffic Engineering – SafetyTraffic Signals
Traffic Engineering – SafetyPedestrian Signals
Explain how to use push buttons
Traffic Engineering – SafetyPedestrian Crosswalks
Pedestrian Crosswalks:
Pedestrian activated flasher and high visibility crosswalk.
Traffic Engineering – SafetyTraffic Signs
Traffic Signs:
Retro-Reflective sheeting helps communicate with motorists to prevent crashes, relay information & facilitate uninterrupted traffic flow.
Legibility Distance and Target Value
Stages of Sign Perception
Object Detection“something is there”
Color Recognition“it is red”
Shape Recognition“it is an octagon”
Text / Symbol Legibility“it says stop” STOP
1500 - 2500 Ft.
900 - 1800 Ft.
750 - 1000 Ft.
150 - 400 Ft.
Traffic Engineering – Safety Traffic Studies
12,1
07 12,4
98
11,9
84
11,0
71
11,0
16
11,3
68
11,6
68
11,7
87 12,4
49
13,2
85
13,1
29
14,1
08
12,6
64
11,9
41
11,9
08
11,9
48 12,6
56
12,8
89 13,5
02
15,0
18
15,8
84
15,8
59
15,8
31
10,500
11,500
12,500
13,500
14,500
15,500
16,500
Year
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. ACC.RATE*1 M.L. King Blvd at Hwy 27 exit ramp and Pine St 26 4.702 Hwy 153 north exit ramp to Hixson Pike north 28 4.333 4th Ave at E 37th St 11 3.744 Access Rd entrance Ramp to Hwy 153 south 40 3.485 E. Brainerd Rd at Hickory Valley Rd & I-75 ramp 38 3.236 McCallie Av at Holtzclaw Av 34 3.197 E 4th St at Walnut St 14 3.008 E 4th St at Lookout St 13 2.939 8th St at Georgia Av 12 2.9010 Moore Rd at Old Mission Rd 18 2.80
*number of accidents per million vehicles entering intersection
Traffic Engineering – Safety Sight Distance
Sight Distance Triangle:
Trim hedges for safety’s sake.
Traffic Engineering – Safety Sight Distance
Before AfterSight Distance:
Red Light Camera:
Catch red light runners by taking a picture of their car and license plate.
Traffic Engineering – Safety Red Light Camera
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.
Neighborhood Traffic Management Program (NTMP):
•Traffic diverters•Traffic islands•Speed tables•Textured pavement
Traffic Engineering – Safety Neighborhood Traffic Management
Traffic Engineering – Safety Neighborhood Traffic Management
NTMP Projects:
Old MissionTraffic 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
College: Student Class Projects
Engineering students work on actual projects:
Traffic EngineeringTraffic EngineeringTraffic EngineeringTraffic Engineering
Conduct traffic counts
Conduct delay studies
Learn about right-of-way acquisition
Design intersection improvements
College Senior Project
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College Senior Project
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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.
In conclusion, there are many ways that we, as professionals, can provide outreach to the public.