Section 3: Entering Numerical Data
To accurately calculate and report traffic counts, you must manually transfer counts from the tally counter equipment by handwriting the data onto Form 1617A. In addition, it is mandatory that you accurately sum rows and columns on the form without errors.
At the end of each counting-hour, carefully transfer the vehicle classification counts from the tally counter to the correct:
- block for the direction of traffic flow
- row for the hour that was just counted
- column that reflects vehicle classification
For vehicles not classifiable using the tally counter, carefully transfer the hourly counts from any notes you have taken during the hour to the Notes box on Form 1617A. Remember to indicate each direction of traffic for those counts as well.
Anchor: #i1002798Hours
Looking at Form 1617A in the hour columns use the first and second cells to indicate the hours of your counts. Using the 24-hour military time format, enter two digits for each hour of your shift (minutes are not indicated).
Example.
|
Hour |
|
|
Cell 1 |
Cell 2 |
|
0 |
1 |
|
0 |
2 |
The first row of blocks designates hour 01, or 1:00 a.m.
The second row designates hour 02, or 2:00 a.m., etc.
Anchor: #i1002812Motorcycles
Under the motorcycle column, the third, fourth, and fifth cells indicate hundreds, tens, and ones, respectively. Form 1617A provides three cells for entering counts up to 999 per hour.
Example.
|
Motorcycles |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Cell 3 |
Cell 4 |
Cell 5 |
|
|
|
8 |
|
|
3 |
5 |
|
2 |
5 |
6 |
The first row shows 8 motorcycles for the hour.
The second row shows 35 motorcycles for the hour.
The third row shows 256 motorcycles for the hour.
Anchor: #i1002826Cars and Pickups
Form 1617A provides additional cells to allow entering counts up to 99,999 per hour for the following two classifications of vehicles:
- cars
- pickups, panels, and vans
Under the car columns or the pickup-panel-van columns, enter counts as needed in the required format shown below. Remember to use the correct row for the hour counted and correct block for the direction counted. If cells are not needed for a number, leave them blank.
Example.
|
Hour |
Indication |
Cars (Class 2) |
|||||
|
Cell 1 |
Cell 2 |
|
Cell 6 |
Cell 7 |
Cell 8 |
Cell 9 |
Cell 10 |
|
0 |
8 |
Indicates 10,235 cars in hour 08. |
1 |
0 |
2 |
3 |
5 |
|
Hour |
Indication |
Pickups, Panels, Vans (Class 3) |
|||||
|
Cell 1 |
Cell 2 |
|
Cell 11 |
Cell 12 |
Cell 13 |
Cell 14 |
Cell 15 |
|
0 |
9 |
Indicates 53 Class 3's in hour 09. |
|
|
|
5 |
3 |
Anchor: #i1002855
Other Vehicles
Under the other vehicle columns on Form 1617A, there are cells available to enter up to 9,999 vehicles for each class. Remember to enter hourly counts on the correct row for the hour counted and the correct block for the direction counted. If cells are not needed for a number, leave them blank.
Anchor: #i1002865Weather and Traffic
Indicate the weather and traffic conditions for each hour using numeric codes found in the box on the far right side of Form 1617A. Enter the one-digit codes in the weather and traffic columns for each block that is used for the assigned count. The codes should reflect the most adverse conditions during the hour.
|
Weather Codes |
|
Traffic Codes |
||
|
0 |
Clear |
|
0 |
Normal |
|
1 |
Cloudy |
|
1 |
High |
|
2 |
Dust Storm |
|
2 |
Low |
|
3 |
Fog |
|
3 |
High, cattle auction ball game, fair, etc. |
|
4 |
Mist |
|
4 |
High, gravel haul |
|
5 |
Rain |
|
5 |
High, funeral |
|
6 |
Showers |
|
6 |
Low, road construction |
|
7 |
Sleet |
|
7 |
Low, flooding |
|
8 |
Snow |
|
8 |
Low, icy roads |
Clarification of Codes. Clarification is provided below for some of the condition codes:
- Mist (4) – drizzle during the counting hour.
- Rain (5) – raining continuously for the counting hour.
- Showers (6) – raining intermittently during the counting hour.
- Normal traffic (0) – traffic is moving unimpeded during the hour.
- High traffic (1) – a higher number of vehicles is moving during the hour due to a cause other than auctions, games, fairs; gravel-haul; or funeral procession. A wreck or other obstacle may have cleared and traffic is higher than normally expected that hour.
- Low traffic (2) – a lower number of vehicles is moving during the hour due to a cause other than road construction, floods, or ice. A wreck or other obstacle may have just occurred.
Reset Counter
After you have manually transferred all the numeric data from the tally counter into Form 1617A for an hour’s counting, you must reset all of the tally counter keys to zero. Also, prepare to keep track of the vehicles not classifiable on the tally counter for the next hour. Remember to record the direction of traffic flow for those counts as well.