A 16-hour traffic count from 6 am to 10 pm typically accounts for what percentage of daily traffic on a roadway?

A 16-hour traffic count from 6 am to 10 pm typically captures a significant portion of daily traffic on a roadway, but the estimation of 90 to 95% is based on common traffic flow patterns. During this time frame, the count encompasses the majority of peak travel periods when road usage is highest, including morning and evening commutes, and often accounts for a substantial amount of traffic during midday periods as well.

The early morning and late evening hours generally see reduced traffic volumes, and since the count reflects the busiest hours, it provides a comprehensive view of typical daily traffic behavior. In many cases, the volume of traffic during these 16 hours is representative of how the roadway is utilized throughout the entire day, indicating that a well-planned count would indeed capture around 90 to 95% of total daily traffic.

This understanding comes from transportation engineering principles that analyze how traffic patterns generally align with human activity schedules, especially in urban settings.