Traffic Study

Objective:
      The objective to this study was to establish a type of pattern and correlation between traffic and carpooling. By collecting data we wanted this study to prove or disprove that carpooling was present in specific areas near Mercer University. Another objective was to estimate on average which type of vehicles carpooled.

Methods:
      Specific methods were used during this traffic study. First, we decided to pick a specific area on Mercer University's campus. Our specific area was Margaritas Bar & Grill located in Mercer Village. We wanted to conduct this study within a certain amount of time and decided to collect data for twenty minutes (7:05 - 7:25). We collected data by watching the vehicles go by the restaurant. They data we were looking for was how many people were in each vehicle, and what type of vehicle it was. We sub-divided the types of vehicles into three groups; small cars, big cars, and trucks. Also, at the end of the twenty minutes we added up the total amount of vehicles that drove by. Also, we defined carpooling as having two or more people riding in the vehicle.

Results:
      After conducting our study we found that 107 vehicles drove by Margaritas in twenty minutes. Of the 107 total vehicles 66 were small cars, 30 were big cars, and 11 were trucks. Out of the 66 small cars only 18 (27%) were carpooling. Out of the 30 big cars 21 (70%) were carpooling. Out of the 11 trucks 5 (46%) were carpooling. Finally, out of the total 107 vehicles 44 (41%) were carpooling.

Conclusion:
      One conclusion we made from our study was that people who drive big cars often carpool more frequently then those that drive small cars. One can conclude that carpooling is evident near this area, however carpooling lacks amongst the owners of small cars. One can expect that near a University one would see more carpooling, because some students do not have cars, some students try to save money, and some students spend time with friends.