Citation

Mahalel D, Zaidel David. Transp. Res. Rec. 1986; 1069: 39-45.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1986, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences USA, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Determination of the change interval is a crucial step in signal timing. In the recommendations of the Institute of Traffic Engineers for determining the change interval, the length of the yellow light is so calculated that the "reasonable" driver can pass the stop line before the onset of the red light. Field data show that the normative, reasonable driver model fails empirically, particularly at low approach speeds. The common approach to determine the change interval fails to consider the possibility of rear-end accidents. It does not offer rational, empirical measures for evaluating the joint risk of right-angle and rear-end collisions for various durations of change intervals and for different combinations of yellow and red clearance intervals. A proposed alternative approach relies on the stopping probability function of traffic at the intersection approach. It is shown that the range of the indecision zone that can be inferred from the stopping probability function is related to the risk of rear-end accidents. Similarly, the stopping function and the speed distribution are related to the risk of right-angle collisions. Finally, it is demonstrated how the concepts of stopping probability function and indecision zone might be used in practice to determine the change interval.

Record URL:
http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1986/1069/1069-008.pdf

Language: en

Keywords

TRAFFIC SIGNS, SIGNALS AND MARKINGS; PROBABILITY