The Study of Effect of Humps in Vehicular Movement (A Case Study of Kathmandu Valley)

Abstract

Road accident is a major problem in the developing countries like Nepal. The unlimited high speed results in crashes. Hence the speed humps are used. But the improper geometry further leads to more crashes. Nepal Road Standard has given the geometrical criteria for speed humps, which are still not followed. No any scientific and precise relation has been developed between speed and hump parameters for fixing accurate geometry. The objective of this thesis is to provide a rational and precise relationship of safe speed of vehicles with various parameters of hump such as length, width, arc length and area to width. All the analyses were made using Microsoft Office Excel 2010. The works showed that statically significant regression relationships could be established only between hump-crossing speed and hump geometry characterized by area to width ratio. The area to width ratio decreased linearly as the speed increased. Besides this, the hump section had less speed than the normal section, both for bikes and cars. Furthermore, the speed of bikes in the roads of Kathmandu was found out to be more than that of cars. This thesis is important, mainly for the planners and designers. With the help of relationship between speed and hump parameters, design of hump would be precise and easier for planners.