HIGHWAY ENGINEERING: Types Of Traffic

Traffic estimation is a necessary step in the design and construction of highways, pavements and roadways. Basically speaking, there are three types of traffic viz:

Existing traffic, generated traffic and attracted traffic.

(i) Existing Traffic: This is the traffic that was existing on the road before construction began. In other words, it is the traffic using the road the present moment. If the road is currently not being used, then existing traffic is zero.

(ii) Generated Traffic: Generated traffic is the traffic that starts using the road as the road becomes better. In other words, it is the additional traffic that occurs in response to the improvement or provision of a road.

(iii) Attracted Traffic: This is the traffic that changes from another route to the roadway under construction but still have the same origin and destination. This type of traffic can be deciphered from the quality of the roadway. Certainly, if the new road is better in design, people will be attracted to it.