Safety Evaluation of Discontinuing Late-Night Flash Operations at Signalized Intersections

Late-night flash (LNF) mode at signalized intersections consists of traffic signals that flash yellow for one road (requiring drivers to show caution but not stop) and flash red for the other road (requiring drivers to stop, then proceed after yielding to the main road). Although the intent of this mode has been to reduce energy consumption and delay during periods of low traffic demand, safety concerns have caused agencies to begin replacing LNF with normal phasing operations. Studies of the safety impacts of replacing LNF with normal phasing operations have indicated that doing so will reduce night crashes; however, a limitation of many studies is a potential bias due to regression to the mean (RTM). In this article, the authors examine the effect of eliminating LNF operations at signalized intersections using state-of-the-art methods and to address the noted limitations. The authors aimed to include an adequate sample of locations for which traffic volume data were available.

• Record URL:
  • http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/safety/hsis/13069/13069.pdf
• 
• Record URL:
  • https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/34851
• Authors:
  • Lan, Bo
  • Srinivasan, Raghavan
• Publication Date: 2013-8

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: 4p
• Serial:
  • Exploratory Advanced Research Program Fact Sheet
  • Publisher: Federal Highway Administration

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Flashing traffic signals; Signalized intersections; Traffic crashes; Traffic safety; Traffic signal phases
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01494726
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-HRT-13-069, HRDS-20/08-13(750)E
• Files: NTL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Sep 30 2013 10:37AM