Traffic Census on Non-Urban Roads
1972 Edition

This section introduces the standardized approach to conducting traffic censuses, including the selection of survey points, frequency of counts, data documentation, and consolidation. Key highlights are:

• Consistency in census locations for repeated surveys, allowing additions when necessary (Clause 3.4).
• Conducting counts biannually covering both peak and off-peak seasons, with continuous 7-day, 24-hour monitoring (Clause 4.1).
• Dividing each day into three 8-hour intervals with enumerators tallying vehicle counts by type and direction (Clauses 5.1 to 5.4).
• Compilation of daily and weekly summaries emphasizing peak hour volumes, with retention of records for a minimum of five years (Clauses 6.1 to 6.4).

Detailed templates for field data sheets and summary tables are provided, capturing vehicle classifications and directional flow.

References: Clauses 3.4, 4.1, 5.1, 5.4, 6.1, 6.4

This part defines the standard’s scope, focusing on the collection and classification of traffic data essential for road network design and evaluation. It includes systematic procedures for traffic censuses covering a range of vehicle categories such as passenger cars, light commercial vehicles, buses, heavy trucks, two-wheelers, animal-drawn carts, bicycles, and miscellaneous types. The weekly traffic summary table (Clause 2.000) is pivotal, capturing hourly counts for fast and slow vehicles and enabling calculation of total and average daily traffic figures, which inform road classification, design, and maintenance programs.

References: Clause 2.000

Guidelines for choosing census points under this standard include:

• Placement on principal trunk routes such as National, State, and Major District Highways (Clause 2.2).
• Positioning sites well beyond urban and commuter zones on inter-city routes to avoid skewed data; additional points may be added in such areas (Clause 3.1).
• Dividing roads into sections with relatively uniform traffic flows between points of significant volume change, typically near important towns or key junctions (Clause 3.2).
• Making final decisions on census point placement by senior highway officials considering overall traffic patterns (Clause 3.3).
• Maintaining consistent survey points for follow-up counts while allowing the addition of new stations as necessary (Clause 3.4).

These steps ensure representative and reliable traffic data collection for effective highway planning.

References: Clauses 2.2, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4

According to the standard (Clause 4), the frequency and duration of traffic censuses are as follows:

• Conducting counts at each census location at a minimum of two times per year (Clause 4.1).
• Scheduling one count during the peak agricultural harvest and marketing season, and the other during the lean period.
• Each count must extend over seven continuous days, monitoring traffic 24 hours daily (Clause 4.1).
• Avoiding data collection during abnormal traffic events such as fairs or exhibitions; postponing until typical traffic conditions resume (Clause 4.2).

This approach captures representative seasonal and daily traffic fluctuations.

Furthermore, Clause 3.4 specifies that subsequent counts should use the same census points to maintain consistency, with additions allowed as needed.

Data recording and consolidation details are provided in Clauses 5 and 6, outlining shift divisions and directional data capture.

References: Clauses 3.4, 4.1, 4.2

Clause 5 outlines the protocol for documenting traffic data:

• Each 24-hour period is segmented into three shifts of eight hours each, with enumerators supervised accordingly (Clause 5.1).
• Staff are split into two teams per shift to record traffic in each direction separately (Clause 5.2).
• Manual recording employs a field data sheet (Plate I) where hourly counts are tallied using the five-mark system: four vertical strokes followed by a diagonal stroke for the fifth vehicle (Clauses 5.3 and 5.4).

Compilation includes:

• Daily summary sheets (Plate II) consolidating hourly counts and identifying peak traffic hours (Clause 6.1).
• Weekly summaries (Plate III) aggregating daily data to produce average daily traffic figures (Clause 6.2).
• Preparing four copies of summaries while preserving field sheets for at least five years (Clause 6.3).
• Attaching an index map indicating the location of census sites (Clause 6.4).

The code provides detailed formats for uniform recording and compilation.

References: Clauses 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4

This section details the systematic recording and summarizing of traffic counts:

• Conducting biannual traffic counts for an entire week, encompassing peak and off-peak seasons (Clause 4.1).
• Recording data in three shifts of eight hours each with enumerators and supervisors (Clause 5.1).
• Separating traffic data by direction, using a five-mark tally system for hourly counts (Clauses 5.2, 5.4).
• Compiling daily summary sheets that highlight peak hour traffic for both fast and slow vehicles (Clause 6.1).
• Aggregating daily summaries into weekly forms to calculate average daily traffic (Clause 6.2).
• Preparing four copies of reports distributed to relevant authorities, with field data preserved for five years (Clause 6.3).
• Attaching an index map showing census site details (Clause 6.4).

Key tables include detailed vehicle category counts and directional flows, facilitating accurate and consistent data for infrastructure planning.

References: Clauses 2.000, 3.4, 4.1, 5.1, 5.2, 5.4, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4

This part prescribes the detailed procedures and forms for the Traffic Census Field Data Sheet:

• Counts must be executed twice annually (peak and lean seasons), each lasting seven consecutive days, 24 hours per day (Clause 4.1).
• Daily data is divided into three shifts of eight hours, with enumerators recording traffic by direction using the five-mark tally method (Clauses 5.1 to 5.4).
• The field sheet captures hourly vehicle counts sorted by categories such as cars, buses, three-wheelers, motorcycles, animal-drawn vehicles, cycles, and others, with totals calculated per hour (Clauses 5.3 and Plate I).
• Daily summaries (Plate II) highlight peak hour traffic, while weekly summaries (Plate III) average daily counts. Copies are distributed to maintenance and planning units (Clauses 6.1 to 6.3).
• An index map showing census locations is appended to the summaries (Clause 6.4).

This structured method ensures comprehensive and consistent traffic data collection and reporting.

References: Clauses 3.4, 4.1, 5.1, 5.3, 5.4, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4

Key points for the daily traffic summary include:

• Conducting biannual counts at consistent census points during peak and off-peak seasons, each spanning seven continuous days with full 24-hour coverage (Clause 4.1).
• Dividing the day into three eight-hour shifts with distinct enumerator teams for each travel direction (Clauses 5.1, 5.2).
• Recording hourly traffic volumes using the five-mark tally system (Clause 5.4).
• Compiling data into daily summary sheets that identify peak hour traffic for fast and slow vehicle categories (Clause 6.1).
• Aggregating daily data into weekly summaries to calculate average daily traffic levels (Clause 6.2).

The main forms involved are the Traffic Census Field Data Sheet, Daily Traffic Summary, and Weekly Traffic Summary, all including detailed vehicle categories and remarks sections.

This process ensures accurate and standardized traffic data collection in line with the standard.

References: Clauses 3.4, 4.1, 5.1, 5.2, 5.4, 6.1, 6.2

The weekly summary guidelines include:

• Conducting traffic counts twice yearly, each for a full week covering 24 hours daily, during peak and lean periods (Clause 4.1).
• Recording data in three eight-hour shifts with enumerators and supervisors, separating counts by direction (Clauses 5.1, 5.2).
• Using the five-mark tally approach on field sheets for hourly traffic counts (Clause 5.4).
• Compiling daily summaries that highlight peak hour traffic for fast and slow vehicle groups (Clause 6.1).
• Summarizing daily data into weekly reports that include average daily traffic calculations (Clause 6.2).
• The weekly summary table lists vehicle categories such as cars, jeeps, vans, buses, trucks, motorcycles, three-wheelers, animal-drawn vehicles, cycles, and others, along with totals and remarks (Clause 2.000).
• Maintaining consistency in census point locations for subsequent surveys (Clause 3.4).

This format ensures thorough and consistent documentation of traffic data.

References: Clauses 2.000, 3.4, 4.1, 5.1, 5.2, 5.4, 6.1, 6.2

Specifications for the retention and reporting of traffic census data include:

• Conducting counts biannually during peak and lean seasons, each for seven consecutive days and continuous 24-hour monitoring (Clause 4.1).
• Dividing daily data collection into three shifts with enumerators recording traffic by direction using the five-mark tally system (Clauses 5.1 to 5.4).
• Preparing daily summaries from field sheets highlighting peak periods, and generating weekly summaries in four copies for distribution to relevant maintenance and planning bodies. Field data sheets must be preserved for a minimum of five years (Clauses 6.1 to 6.3).
• Utilizing detailed forms capturing vehicle categories including cars, buses, trucks, motorcycles, animal-drawn vehicles, cycles, and others (Clause 2.000 and Plates I-III).
• Ensuring census points remain the same for successive counts to maintain data consistency (Clause 3.4).

This approach guarantees dependable, consistent data management for highway planning and upkeep.

References: Clauses 2.000, 3.4, 4.1, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3