Crash Patterns at Signalized Intersections

Abstract

Traffic signals are often implemented to provide for efficient movement and to improve traffic safety. Nevertheless, severe crashes still occur at signalized intersections. This study aims to improve understanding of signalized intersection safety by identifying crash types, locations, and factors associated with signalized intersections. For this purpose, 1,295 police-reported crashes at 87 signalized intersections were analyzed on the basis of detailed crash descriptions, that is, crash data and collision diagrams. The information from the collision diagrams was used to distinguish six crash types and to create a crash location typology to divide the signalized intersection into 13 detailed typical segments. Logistic regression modeling techniques were used to identify relations between crash types, their crash location on certain signalized intersection segments, the crash severity, and the different features that affected crash occurrence. Four dominant crash types were identified: rear-end, side (i.e., left-turn plus right-angle), head-on, and vulnerable road user crashes. The results of the logistic regression models showed that the location of these crash types was related to specific signalized intersection segments. The results also revealed important signalized intersection features that affected the crash occurrence. As a result, connections between certain signalized intersection crash types, their crash location, and signalized intersection design characteristics were found. The combination of intersection features with detailed signalized intersection segments provided valuable insights into the nature of signalized intersection crashes and the safety impact of signalized intersection design.

Pre-crash scenarios at road junctions: A clustering method for car crash data

“…Similar research has been conducted (e.g. Polders et al, 2015;Plavsic, 2010;Molinero Martinez et al, 2008;INTERSAFE, 2005;Wiltschko, 2004), however, the usage of k-medoids clustering and association rules in this context is novel.…”

“…Van Maren (1980) reported that (multi-lane) unsignalized intersections have a lower number of crashes per million conflicts than signalized intersections. For signalized intersections, it was found that the dominant crash types are rear-end and head-on collisions (Polders et al, 2015;Obeng, 2007), however, Abdel-Aty et al (2006 states that this also depends on the number of lanes and traffic volumes. In comparison to that, the majority of unsignalized intersection accidents are angle collisions (e.g.…”

Preventing Emergency Vehicle Crashes: Status and Challenges of Human Factors Issues

“…Some risk factors may be shared between emergency and general motor vehicle crashes, although emergency vehicle drivers have different driving behaviors due to "code 3 running," and some emergency vehicles have unique performance characteristics. Examples of the shared risk factors are intersection encounters (Kahn et al, 2001;Polders, Daniels, Hermans, Brijs, & Wets, 2015), drivers' experience (Becker, Zaloshnja, Levick, Li, & Miller, 2003;Retting, Ulmer, & Williams, 1999), drivers' distraction (Horberry, Anderson, Regan, Triggs, & Brown, 2006;Kaber, Liang, Zhang, Rogers, & Gangakhedkar, 2012), and geometrical road design and arrangement (Abdel-Aty & Wang, 2006;Tay & Rifaat, 2007). An analysis of risk factors associated with general motor vehicle crashes that may be relevant to emergency vehicle operation may provide further insight for emergency vehicle crash reduction as well as for comparisons between public motor driving and emergency vehicle driving.…”

“…The size of intersections has a significant impact on vehicle safety. Intersections with more lanes increase the likelihood of traffic conflicts; a vehicle travels longer distances in the box junction (a place where two roads cross), encountering more traffic that travels in the same and different directions (Poch & Mannering, 1996;Polders et al, 2015;Wang, Abdel-Aty, & Brady, 2006). Heavy and large vehicles that cannot make rapid maneuvers (such as deceleration) may experience additional challenges while passing through such intersections.…”

Drivers’ behavioral responses to combined speed and red light cameras

“…Both red light running and speeding are considered to be substantive problems, frequently leading to collisions. Collisions caused by red light running are typically associated with side impacts (Garber et al, 2007;Polders et al, 2014). Red light running at signalized intersections has a significant impact on road safety since this leads to more serious collisions, being side collisions or collisions with vulnerable road users (Kloeden et al, 2001;Retting et al, 1999a,b;Shin and Washington, 2007).…”