Adaptive signal control technology (ASCT) is a traffic management strategy that optimizes signal timing based on real-time traffic demand. Although the primary intent of ASCT is to improve the operational performance of signalized intersections, the technology may also have substantial safety benefits. This study explored the potential safety benefits of the ASCT strategy deployed at signalized intersections in Florida, U.S. An observational before-after full Bayes (FB) approach with a comparison group was adopted to develop crash modification factors (CMFs) for total crashes, rear-end crashes, and specific crash severity levels (fatal plus injury [FI], and property damage only [PDO] crashes). The analysis was based on 20 intersections equipped with ASCT and their corresponding 40 comparison intersections without ASCT. The ASCT deployment was found to significantly reduce total crashes by 7.8% (CMF = 0.922), rear-end crashes by 8.7% (CMF = 0.913), and PDO crashes by 8.1% (CMF = 0.919). The 8.6% reduction in FI crashes (CMF = 0.914) was not significant at a 90% Bayesian credible interval. These findings provide researchers and practitioners with an effective means to quantify the safety benefits of the ASCT strategy and conduct economic appraisals of ASCT deployments.
Transit signal priority (TSP) is a strategy that prioritizes the movement of transit vehicles through a signalized intersection to provide better transit travel time reliability and minimize transit delay. Although TSP is primarily intended to improve the operational performance of transit vehicles, it may also have substantial safety benefits. This study explored the potential safety benefits of the TSP strategy deployed at various locations in Florida. An observational before–after full Bayes (FB) approach with a comparison group was adopted to estimate the crash modification factors (CMFs) for total crashes, rear-end crashes, sideswipe crashes, and angle crashes. The analysis was based on 12 corridors equipped with the TSP system and their corresponding 29 comparison corridors without the TSP system. The deployment of TSP was found to reduce total crashes by 7.2% (CMF = 0.928), rear-end crashes by 5.2% (CMF = 0.948), and angle crashes by 21.9% (CMF = 0.781), and these results are statistically significant at a 95% Bayesian credible interval (BCI) except for the rear-end crashes. On the other hand, sideswipe crashes increased by 6% (CMF = 1.060) although the increase was not significant at a 95% BCI. Overall, the results indicated that TSP improves safety. The findings of this study may present key considerations for transportation agencies and practitioners when planning future TSP deployments.
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