Assessing the Impact of Speed-Limit Reduction near Signalized High-Speed Intersections Equipped with Advance-Warning Flashers
Publication: Journal of Transportation Engineering, Part A: Systems
Volume 143, Issue 6
Abstract
An advance-warning flasher alerts drivers of the imminent onset of a yellow light at a signalized intersection, and it is widely used to reduce crash frequency and severity. Recently, a more-aggressive countermeasure, a speed-limit reduction, is being used at high-speed signalized intersections in addition to advance-warning flashers. In this paper, six high-speed intersection approaches in Nebraska were evaluated to assess the operational effects of no speed-limit reduction, an () speed-limit reduction, and a () speed-limit reduction in the vicinity of high-speed signalized intersections equipped with advance-warning flashers. The placement of speed-limit-reduction signs resulted in significant reductions in observed speeds only when upstream drivers were traveling at speeds higher than a comfortable range—1.8 to (1.1 to ) higher than the regulatory speed limit. The likelihood of this condition being satisfied was higher in case of () drop; however, it was not found to be true when the speed limit was dropped by (). Also, the compliance rates to the regulatory speed limit varied from 15 to 85%, highlighting the fact that ambient conditions have a much greater influence on drivers’ speed choices as compared to the regulatory speed limit. This research provides further evidence that speed-limit reductions, in conjunction with advance-warning flashers, appears to be an effective safety countermeasure; however, their effects will be dependent on the amount of speed-limit reduction and observed speeds.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
Aarts, L., and Schagen, I. V. (2006). “Driving speed and the risk of road crashes: A review.” Accid. Anal. Prev., 38(2), 215–224.
Antonucci, N., Hardy, K., and Slack, K. (2004). “A guide for reducing collisions at signalized intersections.”, Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC.
Appiah, J., Naik, B., Wojtal, R., and Rilett, L. (2011). “Safety effectiveness of actuated advance warning systems.” Transp. Res. Rec., 2250, 19–24.
Barker, N. (2005). “A practical introduction to the bootstrap using the SAS system.” SAS Conf. Proc.: Phuse 2005, Heidelberg, Germany.
Buddemeyer, J., Young, R., and Dorsey-Spitz, B. (2010). “Rural variable speed limit system for southeast Wyoming.” Transp. Res. Rec., 2189, 37–44.
Burnett, N., and Sharma, A. (2011). “Role of information on probability of traffic conflict on the onset of yellow.” Adv. Transp. Stud., 29–40.
Cruzado, I., and Donnell, E. T. (2010). “Factors affecting driver speed choice along two-lane rural highway transition zones.” J. Transp. Eng., 755–764.
Elvik, R., Christensen, P., and Amundsen, A. (2004). “Speed and road accidents.”, Institute of Transport Economics, Oslo, Norway.
Farraher, B. A., Weinholzer, B. R., and Kowski, M. P. (1999). “The effect of advanced warning flashers on red light running: A study using motion imaging recording system technology at trunk highway 169 and pioneer trail in Bloomington, Minnesota.” Compendium of Technical Papers, ITE, 69th Annual Meeting, ITE, Washington, DC.
Finch, D. J., Kompfner, P., Lockwood, C. R. and Maycock, G. (1994). “Speed, speed limits and accident.”, Transport Research Laboratory, Crowthorne, U.K.
Freedman, M., De Leonardis, D., Polson, A., Levi, S., and Burkhardt, E. (2007). “Field test of the impact of setting and enforcing rational speed limits in Gulfport, Mississippi.”, NHTSA, Washington, DC.
Hoogendoorn, S. P. (2005). “Unified approach to estimating free speed distributions.” Transp. Res. Part B: Methodol., 39(8), 709–727.
Knodler, M. A., Jr.,.Hurwitz, D., and Rothenberg, H. A. (2008). “Evaluation of rationally implemented speed limits on collector roadways.” Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting, Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC.
Koenker, R., and Bassett, G., Jr. (1978). “Regression quantiles.” Econometrica: J. Econometric Soc., 46(1), 33–50.
Liu, G. X., and Popoff, A. (1997). “Provincial-wide travel speed and traffic safety study in Saskatchewan.” J. Transp. Res. Board, 1595(16), 8–13.
Malyshkina, N., and Mannering, F. (2009). “Markov switching multinomial logit model: An application to accident-injury severities.” Accid. Anal. Prev., 41(4), 829–838.
McCoy, P. T., and Pesti, G. (2003). “Improving dilemma-zone protection of advance detection with advance-warning flashers.” Transp. Res. Rec., 1844, 11–17.
Middleton, D., Bonneson, J., and Charara, H. (2011). “New evidence of improvements in dilemma zone protection by detection-control system.” Transp. Res. Rec., 2259, 151–157.
Monsere, C., Nolan, C., Bertini, R., Anderson, E. and, El-Seoud, T. (2005). “Measuring the impacts of speed reduction technologies: A dynamic advanced curve warning system evaluation.” Transp. Res. Rec., 1918, 98–107.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. (2009). “Traffic safety facts 2009.” ⟨http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811402.pdf⟩ (Aug. 26, 2016).
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. (2010). “Traffic safety facts 2010.” ⟨http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811659.pdf⟩ (Aug. 26, 2016).
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. (2011). “Traffic safety facts 2011.” ⟨http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811754.pdf⟩ (Aug. 26, 2016).
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. (2012). “Traffic safety facts 2012.” ⟨http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/812032.pdf⟩ (Aug. 26, 2016).
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. (2013). “Traffic safety facts 2013.” ⟨http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/812139.pdf⟩ (Aug. 26, 2016).
Nebiyou, Y. T., David, M. L., and Kevin, K. (2007). “Trails, lanes, or traffic: Valuing bicycle facilities with an adaptive stated preference survey.” Transp. Res. Part A: Policy Pract., 41(4), 287–301.
Oei, H. (1996). “Automatic speed management in Netherlands.” Transp. Res. Rec., 1560, 57–64.
Parker, M. (1997). “Effects of raising and lowering speed limits on selected roadway sections.” U.S. Dept. of Transportation, McLean, VA.
Polanis, S. F. (1999). “Traffic safety toolbox: A primer on traffic safety.” Low-cost safety improvements, Institution of Transportation Engineers, Washington, DC, 265–272.
Sayed, T., Vahidi, H., and Rodriguez, F. (1999). “Advance warning flashers: Do they improve safety?” Transp. Res. Rec., 1692(1999), 30–38.
Sharma, A., Bullock, D., and Peeta, S. (2011). “Estimating dilemma zone hazard function at high speed isolated intersection.” Transp. Res. Part C, 19(3), 400–412.
Son, H., Fontaine, M., and Park, B. (2009). “Long-term speed compliance and safety impacts of rational speed limits.” J. Transp. Eng., 536–544.
Towliat, M., Svensson, H., Lind, G., and Lindkvist, A. (2006). “Variable speed limits at intersections—Effects and experience.” Proc., European Transportation Conf., Strasbourg, France.
TRB (Transportation Research Board). (1998). “Managing speed—Review of current practice for setting and enforcing speed limit.”, National Research Council, Washington, DC.
Ullman, G. L., and Rose, E. R. (2005). “Evaluation of dynamic speed display signs.” Transp. Res. Rec., 1918, 92–97.
Van den Hoogen, E., and Smulders, S. (1994). “Control by variable speed signs: Results of the Dutch experiment.” Proc., 7th Int. Conf. on Road Traffic Monitoring and Control, London, 145–149.
Wagenaar, A. C., Streff, F. M., and Schultz, R. H. (1990). “Effects of the 65 mph speed limit on injury morbidity and mortality.” Accid. Anal. Prev., 22(6), 571–585.
Wavetronix. (2013). “SmartSensor design catalog.” ⟨http://www.wavetronix.com/en/products/smartsensor⟩ (Aug. 26, 2016).
Wu, Z., Sharma, A., Mannering, F. L., and Wang, S. (2013). “Safety impacts of signal-warning flashers and speed control at high-speed signalized intersections.” Accid. Anal. Prev., 54, 90–98.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Transportation Engineering, Part A: Systems
Volume 143 • Issue 6 • June 2017
Copyright
©2017 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jun 6, 2015
Accepted: Oct 31, 2016
Published online: Feb 16, 2017
Published in print: Jun 1, 2017
Discussion open until: Jul 16, 2017
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.