Determination of the Offset Distance Between Driveway Exits and Downstream U-turn Locations for Vehicles Making Right Turns Followed by U-turns

Determination of the Offset Distance Between Driveway Exits and Downstream U-turn Locations for Vehicles Making Right Turns Followed by U-turns
Author: Jian John Lu
Publisher:
Total Pages: 194
Release: 2005
Genre: Driveways
ISBN:

Florida increasingly uses restrictive medians and directional median openings on multi-lane highways to manage left turn egress maneuvers from driveways and side streets. By installing non-traversable medians and replacing full median openings with directional median openings at various locations, Florida prohibits direct left-turn exits onto some major arterials. The purpose of this research was to evaluate how the offset distance between driveway exits and downstream median openings or signalized intersections impacts traffic operational and safety performance. The primary objective is to determine optimum offset distances to facilitate driver use of Right Turn Followed by a U-Turn (RTUT) maneuvers, specifically investigating (1) traffic operational performance, based on the evaluation of vehicle travel time at various offset distances, and (2) safety performance, based on the evaluation of traffic conflicts and crash data. The focus of this research was on urban or suburban multi-lane divided arterials. Researchers studied the impacts of offset distance under four different scenarios: 4-lane divided roadways accommodating U-turns at median openings, 4-lane divided roadways accommodating U-turns at signalized intersections, 6 or more-lane divided roadways accommodating U-turns at median openings, and 6 or more-lane divided roadways accommodating U-turns at signalized intersections.

Evaluating the Effects of Prohibiting Left Turns and the Resulting U-turn Movement

Evaluating the Effects of Prohibiting Left Turns and the Resulting U-turn Movement
Author: Mashrur A. Chowdhury
Publisher:
Total Pages: 90
Release: 2003
Genre: Roads
ISBN:

The objective of this research was to evaluate the operational and safety effects of restricting direct left turns from a driveway and providing alternatives to accommodate the left turn deterred traffic. This study was conducted in three phases: survey of state agencies, operational analysis, and safety assessment. Very little operational difference was found between no restrictions on direct left turns versus the restrictions with the U-turn alternative movements from site to site. While changes in the traffic volumes on the mainline had an impact in specific instances, no definite trends were apparent. As a result of all findings in this study, it is proposed that alternatives must be evaluated on a site-by-site basis. This study also found the jughandle design to be a superior alternative for accommodating left-turn deterred traffic for multi-lane divided and undivided sites compared to mid-block or intersection U-turns. The safety assessment revealed that a right turn followed by a U-turn movement is safer than the direct left turn.

NCHRP Report

NCHRP Report
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 135
Release: 1964
Genre: Highway capacity
ISBN: 9780309060677

Roundabouts

Roundabouts
Author: Lee August Rodegerdts
Publisher: Transportation Research Board
Total Pages: 407
Release: 2010
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 0309155118

TRB's National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Report 672: Roundabouts: An Informational Guide - Second Edition explores the planning, design, construction, maintenance, and operation of roundabouts. The report also addresses issues that may be useful in helping to explain the trade-offs associated with roundabouts. This report updates the U.S. Federal Highway Administration's Roundabouts: An Informational Guide, based on experience gained in the United States since that guide was published in 2000.