Abstract
This chapter reviews two of the basic elements of traffic operations: vehicle operating characteristics and traffic characteristics. The discussion of vehicle operating characteristics addresses vehicle types and dimensions; design vehicles; turning radii and offtracking; resistance to motion; power requirements; acceleration and deceleration performance; vehicle operating costs; and transit and buses. The discussion of traffic characteristics addresses traffic volumes, traffic composition, speed characteristics, and spacing and headway characteristics. The chapter emphasizes the highway mode of transportation with some coverage of urban transportation as well.