The operating speed of a road is the speed at which
motor vehicles
A motor vehicle, also known as motorized vehicle or automotive vehicle, is a self-propelled land vehicle, commonly wheeled, that does not operate on Track (rail transport), rails (such as trains or trams) and is used for the transportation of pe ...
generally operate on that road.
The precise definition of "operating speed", however, is open to debate. Some sources, such as the
AASHTO, have changed their definitions recently to match the common use of the word. In 1994, the AASHTO ''Green Book'' defined the operating speed as "the highest overall speed at which a driver can travel on a given highway
under favorable weather conditions and under prevailing traffic conditions without at any time exceeding the safe speed as determined by the design speed on a section-by-section basis," a definition which a majority of
US states still use. In July 2001, however, the AASHTO revised their definition for the new edition of the ''Green Book''
and defined it as "the speed at which drivers are observed operating their vehicles during free-flow conditions."
See also
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Assured Clear Distance Ahead
In legal terminology, the assured clear distance ahead (ACDA) is the distance ahead of any terrestrial locomotive device such as a land vehicle, typically an automobile, or watercraft, within which they should be able to bring the device to a ...
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Design speed
The design speed is a tool used to determine geometric features of a new road or street during road design. Contrary to the word's implication, the design speed of the road or street is not necessarily its vehicle speed limit or maximum safe sp ...
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Solomon curve
]
The Solomon curve is a graphical representation of the collision rate of automobiles as a function of their speed compared to the average vehicle speed on the same road. The curve was based on research conducted by David Solomon in the late 195 ...
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Speed limit
Speed limits on road traffic, as used in most countries, set the legal maximum speed at which vehicles may travel on a given stretch of road. Speed limits are generally indicated on a traffic sign reflecting the maximum permitted speed - expres ...
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Traffic psychology
Traffic psychology is a discipline of psychology that studies the relationship between psychological processes and the behavior of road users. In general, traffic psychology aims to apply theoretical aspects of psychology in order to improve traff ...
References
Road transport
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