Impacts on Safety of Left-turn Treatment at High Speed Signalized Intersections

Impacts on Safety of Left-turn Treatment at High Speed Signalized Intersections
Author: T. H. Maze
Publisher:
Total Pages: 94
Release: 1994
Genre: Left-turn lanes
ISBN:

Left-turning traffic is a major source of conflicts at intersections. Though an average of only 10% to 15% of all approach traffic turns left, these vehicles are involved in approximately 45% of all accidents. This report presents the results of research conducted to develop models which estimate approach accident rates at high speed signalized intersections. The objective of the research was to quantify the relationship between traffic and intersection characteristics, and accident potential of different left turn treatments. Geometric, turning movement counts, and traffic signal phasing data were collected at 100 intersections in Iowa using a questionnaire sent to municipalities. Not all questionnaires resulted in complete data and ultimately complete data were derived for 63 intersections providing a database of 248 approaches. Accident data for the same approaches were obtained from the Iowa Department of Transportation Accident Location and Analysis System (ALAS). Regression models were developed for two different dependent variables: 1) the ratio of the number of left turn accidents per approach to million left turning vehicles per approach, and 2) the ratio of accidents per approach to million traffic movements per approach. A number of regression models were developed for both dependent variables. One model using each dependent variable was developed for intersections with low, medium, and high left turning traffic volumes. As expected, the research indicates that protected left turn phasing has a lower accident potential than protected/permitted or permitted phasing. Left turn lanes and multiple lane approaches are beneficial for reducing accident rates, while raised medians increase the likelihood of accidents. Signals that are part of a signal system tend to have lower accident rates than isolated signals. The resulting regression models may be used to determine the likely impact of various left turn treatments on intersection accident rates. When designing an intersection approach, a traffic engineer may use the models to estimate the accident rate reduction as a result of improved lane configurations and left turn treatments. The safety benefits may then be compared to any costs associated with operational effects to the intersection (i.e., increased delay) to determine the benefits and costs of making intersection safety improvements.

An Analysis of Decision Boundaries for Left-turn Treatments

An Analysis of Decision Boundaries for Left-turn Treatments
Author: Michael Louis Adamson
Publisher:
Total Pages: 100
Release: 2019
Genre: Electronic dissertations
ISBN:

The purpose of this project is to evaluate the safety and operational differences between three left-turn treatments: permitted, protected, and protected-permitted left-turn phasing. Permitted phasing allows vehicles to turn left after yielding to any opposing vehicles; protected phasing provides an exclusive phase for vehicles to turn left that does not allow opposing vehicles; and protected-permitted phasing combines the previous phasing alternatives, allowing vehicles to turn after yielding while also providing some green time for protected left-turns.

Permissive/protected Left-turn Phasing

Permissive/protected Left-turn Phasing
Author: United States. Federal Highway Administration
Publisher:
Total Pages: 7
Release: 2010
Genre: Electronic traffic controls
ISBN:

"The ... case study showcases a successful and effective low-cost countermeasure that measurably improved safety at three signalized intersections in Michigan. The treatment included converting the permissive left-turn mode to permissive/protected phasing.."--Web site.

Safety Effects of Left-turn Phasing Schemes at High-speed Intersections

Safety Effects of Left-turn Phasing Schemes at High-speed Intersections
Author: Gary A. Davis
Publisher:
Total Pages: 69
Release: 2007
Genre: Left-turn lanes
ISBN:

This report describes an effort in estimating crash modification factors (CMFs) associated with different left-turn phasing schemes, at intersections where the major approach speed limit exceeds 40 mph. For installation of signals at previously thru/stop-controlled intersections, rear-end crashes increased while right-angle crashes decreased. Installation of the signal had no effect on either major or minor approach left turn crashes as long as the protected-only left turn phasing was used on the major approaches. At one intersection where a signal was originally installed with permitted/protected phasing on the major approaches, we found evidence for an increase in major approach left-turn crashes, which vanished when the major approach left-turn treatment was changed to protected-only. For several other phasing changes it was not possible to construct an after-treatment data set of sufficient size to permit reliable estimation of an effect. This report also describes a simple simulation model for left-turn cross-path crashes, where a probabilistic gap acceptance model for the turning driver is combined with a standard braking model for the opposing driver. The model characterizes left-turn crashes as resulting when the turning driver accepts a minimal gap and takes an atypically long time complete his/her turn, while the opposing driver takes an atypically long time to react before braking. R reconstruction of an actual fatal crash however was more consistent with the opposing driver reacting normally, but with the turning driver selecting an atypically short gap. Characterizing the rate at which such selection errors occur would then be necessary to accurately predict left-turn crash frequencies.

Assessment of Multiple Left-turn Phasing Strategies

Assessment of Multiple Left-turn Phasing Strategies
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 50
Release: 2004
Genre: Left-turn lanes
ISBN:

In Missouri, multiple left-turns are gaining popularity. However, the installation of these multiple left-turn raises questions for which the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) has not yet developed answers. Specifically, MoDOT seeks guidance on: Criteria for determining when to install double and triple left-turns. The type of phasing to be used for dual and triple left-turn lanes. Whether to use "Dallas" or permitted lead-lag phasing for any left-turn lanes. Where to begin reducing the number receiving lanes downstream of an intersection with multiple left-turn lanes