Exploring Driver Error at Intersections: Key Contributors and Solutions

A large portion of crashes occur at intersections, and most such crashes are associated with driver mistakes. Severe mistakes may lead to serious injuries; therefore, it is necessary to investigate the factors that contribute to driver error and how those factors influence driver behavior. More information on these contributing factors can help researchers develop cost-effective countermeasures that might help mitigate driver error. The primary objective of this study was to examine key contributors to driver error that took place at uncontrolled, sign-controlled, and signalized intersections. An ordered-probit statistical model and a data-mining technique called "association rules" were implemented to explore these relationships. The results of both approaches were consistent. Association rules were found to be capable of discovering patterns in the data that could not be found in the ordered-probit statistical model. The secondary objective of this study was to provide new insights on how to improve intersection safety by adding to the knowledge regarding the contributing factors of those driver errors. Most, if not all, errors are related to human factors; thus, they can effectively be corrected through a holistic approach that involves engineering, enforcement, and education.

• Record URL:
  https://doi.org/10.3141/2514-01
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/9780309369367
• Authors:
  • Wang, Kai
  • Qin, Xiao
• Publication Date: 2015

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 1–9
• Monograph Title: Safety Data, Analysis, and Evaluation
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board
  • Issue Number: 2514
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Countermeasures; Driver errors; High risk locations; Human factors in crashes; Intersections
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01551789
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 9780309369367
• Report/Paper Numbers: 15-1575
• Files: PRP, TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Jan 27 2015 11:24AM