DEVELOPMENT OF A DESIGN BASED INTERSECTION SAFETY PERFORMANCE EVALUATION TOOL

• Main Author: Kirk, Adam J
• Format: Others
• Published: UKnowledge 2013
• Subjects: Intersections; Safety; Highway Design; Performance Evaluation; Microsimulation; Civil Engineering
• Online Access: http://uknowledge.uky.edu/ce_etds/17; http://uknowledge.uky.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1014&context=ce_etds

The purpose of this research is to develop an intersection safety evaluation tool that is capable of assisting designers and planners in the assessment of alternative intersection designs. A conflict exposure model utilizing design hour volumes, intersection configuration and traffic control measures is proposed to achieve this goal. This approach makes use of data typically available for preliminary intersection design. The research goes beyond existing safety performance models which only examine non-directional average daily traffic (ADT) or practices which only account for the geometric and lane configuration of an intersection, such as conflict point analysis. Conflict prediction models are developed for left-turn angle, right-turn, rear end and sideswipe crashes. These models were developed through the analysis of over 1000 simulation scenarios evaluating a full range of approach and turning volumes, lane configurations and traffic control strategies. The quantifiable metrics provided can be used to inform and improve alternative intersection selection processes by differentiating between alternatives based on a surrogate safety performance. This research may be used in screening of intersection alternatives to select the most beneficial design based on objective safety performance metrics.