Additional board-style practice items for this topic.
Question Bank: w208
MSTE - Highway Engineering / Curves, Earthworks, and Traffic Engineering / MSTE May 2022
Signs used to guide drivers through a change in horizontal alignment of the road.
Chevron signs
Supplementary signs
Guide post signs
Delineators
Signs used to guide drivers through a change in horizontal alignment are called Chevron Alignment Signs. Guide post signs provide route information, delineators enhance visibility and roadway guidance, and supplementary signs add information to a primary sign.
Question Bank: w209
MSTE - Highway Engineering / Curves, Earthworks, and Traffic Engineering / MSTE May 2022
The basic lane width appropriate for national roads is:
6.70 m
7.00 m
3.35 m
3.50 m
The basic lane width appropriate for national roads is 3.35 m.
Question Bank: w210
MSTE - Highway Engineering / Curves, Earthworks, and Traffic Engineering / MSTE May 2022
Delineation of the road alignment needs to be considered as part of the design process to ensure that adequate guidance is provided to road users. Delineation is generally provided by the use of the following devices: I. Pavement markings; II. Signs; III. Guide posts; IV. Reflective delineators; V. Lighting; VI. Curb or other physical devices.
I, II, III and IV only
II, III, IV and VI only
I, IV, V and VI only
All of the above
All listed devices are used for road delineation. Pavement markings define lanes and boundaries; signs warn, regulate, and inform; guide posts and reflective delineators guide drivers along the road; lighting improves night visibility; and curbs or other physical devices define and separate the roadway. Therefore, the answer is All of the above.
Question Bank: w211
MSTE - Highway Engineering / Curves, Earthworks, and Traffic Engineering / MSTE May 2022
Operating a motor vehicle on a street or highway can be complex and demanding at times, but it can be boring at other times. These range of circumstances coupled with the range of driver capabilities presents a challenge to the highway designer. It is helpful to begin by considering the three essential elements such as navigation, guidance and control is referred to as:
Engineering psychology
Ergonomics
Driving task
Range Index
Navigation, guidance, and control are the three essential elements of the driving task. The driving task includes the cognitive, perceptual, and physical actions required for safe and efficient vehicle operation.
Question Bank: w212
MSTE - Highway Engineering / Curves, Earthworks, and Traffic Engineering / MSTE May 2022
Sign that inform road users about the direction and distances of destinations on the route they are following or along other roads that intersect their route.
supplementary signs
guide signs
warning signs
Stack signs
Guide signs inform road users of the direction and distance to destinations. They typically show names of cities, towns, and landmarks with arrows or route information. Supplementary signs add clarification, while warning signs alert drivers to hazards.
Question Bank: w213
MSTE - Highway Engineering / Curves, Earthworks, and Traffic Engineering / MSTE May 2022
What are some important properties of queuing diagrams? I. The slope of D(t) is the departure rate; the slope of A(t) is the arrival rate. II. The departure cannot exceed the service rate or capacity of the server; it may be less. III. Cumulative departures can never exceed cumulative arrivals; D(t) can never be above A(t) in the queuing diagram. IV. When a queue is present, the departure rate will equal the service rate. When no queue is present, the departure rate will equal the arrival rate. The queue first forms when the arrival rate first exceeds the service rate.
I, II, and III only
All of the above
II, III, and IV only
I, III, and IV only
All four statements describe standard properties of queuing diagrams. Slopes represent arrival and departure rates; departures are limited by service capacity; cumulative departures cannot exceed cumulative arrivals; and the departure rate equals capacity while a queue exists but equals arrivals when there is no queue. Therefore, the answer is All of the above.
Question Bank: w327
MSTE - Highway Engineering / Curves, Earthworks, and Traffic Engineering / MSTE April 2025
It is the basic unit of travel behavior. It also involves movement from a single origin to a single destination and are described in terms of origins, destinations, purposes, time of occurrence, travel modes and routes.
Trip
Choice
Modality
Mode
The correct answer is Trip. A trip is the fundamental unit of travel demand analysis: one movement from a single origin to a single destination, classified by purpose, time, mode, and route.
Mode refers to the means of travel (car, bus, walking), modality to the general property of having modes, and choice to the decision process among alternatives — none of which is the unit of travel itself.
Question Bank: w328
MSTE - Highway Engineering / Curves, Earthworks, and Traffic Engineering / MSTE April 2025
In the PIEV process of driver reaction, it is the time for sensations to be transmitted to the brain.
Perception
Ignition
Emotion
Sensation
The correct answer is Perception.
The PIEV process breaks driver reaction time into four stages: Perception — the time for sensations to be transmitted to the brain Intellection — the time for understanding the situation Emotion — the time elapsed during emotional sensations Volition — the time elapsed to make the final decision
Question Bank: w329
MSTE - Highway Engineering / Curves, Earthworks, and Traffic Engineering / MSTE April 2025
In the PIEV process of driver reaction, it is the time for understanding the situation.
Perception
Intellection
Emotion
Sensation
The correct answer is Intellection, the second stage of the PIEV process.
Perception — the time for sensations to be transmitted to the brain Intellection — the time for understanding the situation Emotion — the time elapsed during emotional sensations Volition — the time elapsed to make the final decision
Question Bank: w330
MSTE - Highway Engineering / Curves, Earthworks, and Traffic Engineering / MSTE April 2025
In the PIEV process of driver reaction, it is the time elapsed during emotional sensations.
Perception
Ignition
Emotion
Sensation
The correct answer is Emotion, the third stage of the PIEV process.
Perception — the time for sensations to be transmitted to the brain Intellection — the time for understanding the situation Emotion — the time elapsed during emotional sensations Volition — the time elapsed to make the final decision
Question Bank: w331
MSTE - Highway Engineering / Curves, Earthworks, and Traffic Engineering / MSTE April 2025
In the PIEV process of driver reaction, it is the time elapsed to make the final decision.
Judgment
Decision
Division
Volition
The correct answer is Volition, the final stage of the PIEV process.
Perception — the time for sensations to be transmitted to the brain Intellection — the time for understanding the situation Emotion — the time elapsed during emotional sensations Volition — the time elapsed to make the final decision
The sum of these four stages is the total PIEV or perception-reaction time, commonly taken as 2.5 seconds for stopping sight distance design.