Improving the Safety of Left-Turn Operations at Signalized Intersections for High-Risk

A total of 1,062 left-turn related crashes at signalized intersections in Idaho (2006-2015) were analyzed to document the underlying factors that affect left-turn crashes and to identify crash types that prevail among different driver groups. Comparative analysis was conducted to compare the characteristics of intersections at which frequent crashes occurred and those at which few crashes occurred to identify intersection design and control elements that might have contributed to left-turn crashes. The research results showed that no significant difference in left-turn crashes between intersections that used a flashing yellow arrow and intersections that used a doghouse left-turn signal display. The study results suggested that there is there is a need for more emphasis on left-turn permissive operations at signalized intersections in teen driver education programs, as teen drivers represent the most vulnerable group. Protected-only left-turn operations at signalized intersections on routes and in neighborhoods with greater numbers of mature drivers can eliminate significant portion of mature drivers’ left-turn related crashes. Protected-only left-turn operations at signalized intersections during inclement weather conditions can eliminate a significant portion of the 8 percent of the crashes that occur during inclement weat

• Record URL:
  • http://hdl.handle.net/1773/43489
• Record URL:
  • https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/63410
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This document was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation, University Transportation Centers Program.
• Corporate Authors:

  National Institute for Advanced Transportation Technology

  University of Idaho, Moscow
  115 Engineering Physics Building
  Moscow, ID  United States  83844-0901

  Pacific Northwest Transportation Consortium

  University of Washington
  More Hall Room 112
  Seattle, WA  United States  98195-2700

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Gonzalez, Angel
  • Abdel-Rahim, Ahmed
• Publication Date: 2018-7

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Project Report

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aged drivers; Left turns; Signalized intersections; Teenage drivers; Traffic safety
• Geographic Terms: Idaho
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01709098
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: UTC, NTL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Jun 27 2019 2:41PM