Effect of Red-Light Cameras on Capacity of Signalized Intersections
Publication: Journal of Transportation Engineering
Volume 142, Issue 1
Abstract
Red light running (RLR) is one of the most common violations drivers commit at signalized intersections. To avoid RLR violations, some drivers may decide to stop abruptly, even though they had the opportunity to cross the stop line before the onset of the red light. This action happens more frequently at intersections with a red-light camera (RLC). The consequence of this change in drivers’ stopping behavior is the potential reduction of the usable clearance interval and the slight decline in the intersection capacity. However, different agencies’ guidelines take different approaches to estimate the clearance lost time (CLT) for capacity analysis of signalized intersections; there is not an adjustment factor for considering the impact of RLCs. In an attempt to quantify the effect of RLCs on the capacity of signalized intersections, field data were collected at eight intersections: four with RLCs and four without, in the cities of Opelika and Auburn, Alabama. A total of 1,191 cycles and a total of 1,863 drivers’ responses to clearance intervals were used to estimate the CLT. It was found that the estimated CLT at the approach with a RLC is approximately 2.7 s longer than the default value presented by one set of guidelines and about 1.1 s longer than those in another. On average, the unused yellow time was a half-second longer in RLC intersections than the intersections without RLCs.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
This project was funded by the Highway Research Center at Department of Civil Engineering of Auburn University. The authors would like to thank Mr. Hossein Ahmadianyazdi for his help in collecting data.
References
Council, F. M. (2005). “Implementing red light camera programs: Guidance from economic analysis of safety benefits.”, Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC, 38–43.
Fitzsimmons, E. J., Hallmark, S., McDonald, T., Orellana, M., and Matulac, D. (2007). “The effectiveness of Iowa’s automated red light running enforcement programs.”, Iowa State University Center for Transportation Research and Education, Ames, IA.
Gates, T. J., Savolainen, P. T., and Maria, U. H. (2014). “Impacts of automated red light running enforcement cameras on driver behavior.” Transportation Research Board 93rd Annual Meeting, Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC.
Hadayeghi, A., Malone, B., Suggett, J., and Reid, J. (2007). “Identification of intersections with promise for red light camera safety improvement: Application of generalized estimating equations and empirical bayes.”, Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC, 181–188.
Hallmark, S., Orellana, M., McDonald, T., Fitzsimmons, E., and Matulac, D. (2010). “Red light running in Iowa: Automated enforcement program evaluation with Bayesian analysis.”, Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC, 48–54.
Huang, H., Chin, H. C., and Heng, A. H. H. (2006). “Effect of red light cameras on accident risk at intersections.”, Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC, 18–26.
Hubbell, A. (2013). “Opelika installs red light cameras to improve highway safety.” 〈http://www.wtvm.com/story/21801891/opelika-installs-red-light-cameras-for-safer-roads〉 (Dec. 10, 2013).
IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety). “Communities using red light cameras.” 〈http://www.iihs.org/iihs/topics/laws/printablelist?print-view〉 (Oct. 10, 2013).
Ko, M., Geedipally, S. R., and Walden, T. D. (2013). “Effectiveness and site selection of red light running camera systems.”, Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC, 53–60.
McCartt, A. T., and Wen, H. (2014). “Effects of red light camera enforcement on red light violations in Arlington County, Virginia.” J. Safety Res., 48, 57–62.
Miller, A. J. (1968). “The capacity of signalized intersections in Australia.” Australian Road Research Board, Australia.
Persaud, B., Council, F. M., Lyon, C., Eccles, K., and Griffith, M. (2005). “Multijurisdictional safety evaluation of red light cameras.”, Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC, 29–37.
Retting, R. A., Ferguson, S. A., and Farmer, C. M. (2008). “Reducing red light running through longer yellow signal timing and red light camera enforcement: Results of a field investigation.” J. Acid Anal. Prev., 40(1), 327–333.
Retting, R. A., Ferguson, S. A., and Hakkert, A. S. (2003). “Effects of red light cameras on violations and crashes: A review of the international literature.” Traffic Inj. Prev., 4(1), 17–23.
Retting, R. A., and Greene, M. A. (1997). “Influence of traffic signal timing on red-light running and potential vehicle conflicts at urban intersections.”, Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC, 1–7.
Retting, R. A., and Kyrychenko, S. Y. (2002). “Crash reductions associated with red light camera enforcement in Oxnard, California.” Am. J. Public Health, 92(11), 1822–1825.
Retting, R. A., Williams, A. F., Farmer, C. M., and Feldman, A. F. (1999). “Evaluation of red light camera enforcement in Fairfax, Virginia.” ITE J., 69(8), 30–35.
Retting, R. A., Williams, A. F., Preusser, D. F., and Weinstein, H. B. (1995). “Classifying urban crashes for countermeasure development.” J. Acid Anal. Prev., 27(3), 283–294.
Sayed, T., and de Leur, P. (2007). “Evaluation of Edmonton’s intersection safety camera program.”, Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC, 37–45.
TRB (Transportation Research Board). (2010). “Highway capacity manual.” Washington, DC.
UTCA (University Transportation Center for Alabama). (2007). “Traffic signal design guide and timing manual.” Alabama Dept. of Transportation, Tuscaloosa, AL.
Van Der Horst, R. (1988). “Driver decision making at traffic signals.”, Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC, 93–97.
Walden, T., and Bochner, B. (2011). “Effectiveness of red light cameras—Texas statewide evaluation.” ITE J., 81(12), 30–33.
Walden, T. D., Geedipally, S., Ko, M., Gilbert, R., and Perez, M. (2011). “Evaluation of automated traffic enforcement systems in Texas.” Traffic Operations Division, Texas Dept. of Transportation, Austin, TX.
Webster, V., and Cobbe, B. M. (1966). “Traffic signal settings.” Road Research Laboratory, London.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
© 2015 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Nov 13, 2014
Accepted: Jul 14, 2015
Published online: Sep 25, 2015
Published in print: Jan 1, 2016
Discussion open until: Feb 25, 2016
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.