Turning Movement
A Turning Movement is a basic concept in traffic engineering that describes how vehicles navigate through intersections by making left turns, right turns, or going straight. Traffic engineers study these movements to understand traffic patterns, plan road improvements, and make intersections safer and more efficient. When you see this term in a resume, it usually refers to experience with collecting, analyzing, or using turning movement data to make decisions about traffic signal timing, road design, or traffic management.
Examples in Resumes
Conducted Turning Movement counts at 15 major intersections to optimize traffic signal timing
Analyzed Turning Movement patterns to recommend improvements for highway exit ramps
Used Turning Movement studies to design safer pedestrian crossings at busy intersections
Typical job title: "Traffic Engineers"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Traffic Engineers
Professional Organizations
Professional Networks
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How would you use turning movement data to improve a congested intersection?
Expected Answer: A senior engineer should discuss analyzing peak hour patterns, considering multiple solutions like signal timing adjustments, adding turn lanes, or recommending roundabouts, while also considering cost and feasibility factors.
Q: How do you incorporate pedestrian and bicycle safety when analyzing turning movements?
Expected Answer: Should explain how to balance vehicle turning movements with pedestrian crossing times, bicycle lanes, and safety measures, demonstrating knowledge of complete streets principles.
Mid Level Questions
Q: What methods do you use to collect turning movement data?
Expected Answer: Should describe manual counting methods, automated counting technologies, peak hour analysis, and quality control procedures to ensure accurate data collection.
Q: How do you determine if a dedicated turn lane is needed based on turning movement counts?
Expected Answer: Should explain how to analyze turn volumes, queue lengths, and delay times to justify turn lane additions, considering both technical guidelines and practical constraints.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What are the basic components of a turning movement count?
Expected Answer: Should identify left turns, right turns, through movements, time intervals, and vehicle classifications as basic elements of turning movement counts.
Q: Why are peak hour turning movement counts important?
Expected Answer: Should explain that peak hours show maximum traffic stress on intersections, helping engineers design for worst-case scenarios and improve traffic flow when it's most needed.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic turning movement data collection
- Using count sheets and simple software
- Understanding peak hours
- Basic traffic analysis
Mid (2-5 years)
- Advanced data collection methods
- Analysis software proficiency
- Report writing and recommendations
- Project coordination
Senior (5+ years)
- Complex intersection analysis
- Project management
- Safety improvement recommendations
- Team leadership and training
Red Flags to Watch For
- No field experience in data collection
- Unfamiliarity with traffic analysis software
- Lack of understanding of basic traffic flow concepts
- No experience with report writing or data presentation
Related Terms
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