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.

Operational and Safety Impacts of U-Turns at Signalized Intersections

Operational and Safety Impacts of U-Turns at Signalized Intersections
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages:
Release: 2004
Genre:
ISBN:

With rapidly growing urban areas and construction of new developments, efficient access to the roadway network becomes a relevant issue. In the effort to balance safety, mobility, and access, many transportation officials are in favor of designs that employ raised medians on the main road. However, this decision draws much controversy from those opposed to the lack of direct access that comes with raised median designs. One of the issues in this controversy is the effect of increased U-turns at adjacent intersections. The purpose of this research is to determine the operational and safety effects of U-turns at signalized intersections. The operational analysis involved measurements of vehicle headways in exclusive left turn lanes at 14 intersections. By regression analysis, I obtained an equation to estimate saturation flow reduction based on intersection characteristics. This equation indicates a 1.8% saturation flow rate loss in the left turn lane for every 10% increase in U-turn percentage and an additional 1.5% loss for every 10% U-turns if the U-turning movement is opposed by protected right turn overlap from the cross street. The safety study involved a set of 78 intersections. Fifty-four sites were chosen randomly, and twenty-four sites were selected based on their reputation as U-turn 'problem sites'. Although the group of study sites was purposely biased toward sites with high U-turn percentages, the study found that 65 of the 78 sites did not have any collisions involving U-turns in the three-year study period, and the U-turn collisions at the remaining 13 sites ranged from 0.33 to 3.0 collisions per year. Sites with double left turn lanes, protected right turn overlap, or high left turn and conflicting right turn traffic volumes were found to have a significantly greater number of U-turn collisions.

Capacity and Operational Effects of Midblock Left-turn Lanes

Capacity and Operational Effects of Midblock Left-turn Lanes
Author: James A. Bonneson
Publisher: Transportation Research Board
Total Pages: 148
Release: 1997
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 9780309060677

The objective of this research project was to develop a methodology for evaluating alternative midblock left-turn treatments on urban and suburban arterials. The methodology had to be applicable to three common midblock left-turn treatments: the raised-curb median, the flush median with two-way left-turn lane (TWLTL) delineation, and the undivided cross section. The methodology developed for this research focuses on the evaluation of midblock street segments on urban and suburban arterials. The basis for NCHRP Report 395.

An Analysis of the Protected-permitted Left Turn at Intersections with a Varying Number of Opposing Through Lanes

An Analysis of the Protected-permitted Left Turn at Intersections with a Varying Number of Opposing Through Lanes
Author: Alexander K. Navarro
Publisher:
Total Pages: 301
Release: 2014
Genre:
ISBN:

The Flashing Yellow Arrow Left Turn signal is quickly becoming prominent in Central Florida as a new method of handling left turns at traffic signals. While the concept of a protected-permitted left turn is not groundbreaking, the departure from the typical display of a five-section signal head is, for this type of operation. The signal head introduced is a four-section head with a flashing yellow arrow between the yellow and green arrows. With this signal head quickly becoming the standard, there is a need to re-evaluate the operational characteristics of the left turning vehicle and advance the knowledge of the significant parameters that may affect the ability for a driver to make a left turn at a signalized intersection. With previous research into the behavioral and operational characteristics of the flashing yellow arrow conducted, there is more information becoming available about the differences between this signal and the previously accepted method of allowing left turns at an intersection. The protected-permitted signal is typically displayed at an intersection with up to two through lanes and generally a protected signal is installed when the number of through lanes increases above two unless specific criteria is met. With the advent of larger arterials and more traffic on the highway networks, the push to operate these intersections at their maximum efficiency has resulted in more of these protected-permitted signals being present at these larger intersections, including the flashing yellow arrow. The core of the research that follows is a comparative analysis of the operation and parameters that affect the left turn movement of the intersection with larger geometry to that of the smaller geometry.

Safety Effectiveness of Intersection Left- and Right-turn Lanes

Safety Effectiveness of Intersection Left- and Right-turn Lanes
Author: Douglas W. Harwood
Publisher:
Total Pages: 204
Release: 2002
Genre: Roads
ISBN:

This report presents the results of research that performed a well-designed before-after evaluation of the safety effects of providing left- and right-turn lanes for at-grade intersections. Geometric design, traffic control, traffic volume, and traffic accident data were gathered for a total of 280 improved intersections, as well as 300 similar intersections that were not improved during the study period. The types of improvement projects evaluated included installation of added left-turn lanes, added right-turn lanes, and extension of the length of existing left- or right-turn lanes. An observational before-after evaluation of these projects was performed using several alternative evaluation approaches. The three contrasting approaches to before-after evaluation used were the yoked comparison or matched-pair approach, the comparison group approach, and the Empirical Bayes approach. The research not only evaluated the safety effectiveness of left- and right-turn lane improvements, but also compared the performance of these three alternative approaches in making such evaluations. The research developed quantitative safety effectiveness measures for installation design improvements involving added left-turn lanes and added right-turn lanes. The research concluded that the Empirical Bayes method provided the most accurate and reliable results. Further use of this method is recommended.