|
Copyright
|
(Copyright © 1976, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences USA, Publisher SAGE Publishing) |
|
Abstract
|
This paper summarized applicable data collected on several comprehensive studies of small city and town intersections.
CONCLUSIONS are drawn concerning those areas in which urban and rural accident patterns and roadway conditions are both similar and different and how the difference may affect traffic engineering decision making for rural areas. Tabulated summaries of accidents by intersection type, traffic control, geometrics, and signalized intersections are included. A comparison of accident rates under STOP or YIELD sign control versus traffic signal control was made for various intersection types and average daily traffic volumes. Accident data is also included for intersections that provide poor sight distance on at least one traffic approach or that have an unusually steep grade. The following conclusions apply to rural accident characteristics: A typical intersection with a given volume of traffic will have a higher accident frequency under traffic signal control than under STOP or YIELD sign control; Intersections with poor driver sight distance on one or more traffic approaches tend to have a higher-than-normal accident rate; Standardizing signal display should result in reduced accidents at locations with a relatively high number of angle collisions; The frequency of night accidents appears to be a tally unrelated to traffic patterns, traffic control, or intersection geometrics. The following conclusions apply only to rural municipalities: Intersections with severe grade, generally operate safety; Signalized intersections with volumes exceeding the traffic volume warrants are no safer than signalized intersections with volumes below the warrants; Signalized intersections with displays that meet approved standards are no safer than signalized intersections with substandard displays. |