Impacts of Flashing Green on Dilemma Zone Behavior at High-Speed Intersections: Empirical Study in China
Publication: Journal of Transportation Engineering
Volume 141, Issue 7
Abstract
This study investigated the impacts of flashing green on dilemma zone (DZ) behavior at the high-speed intersections with insufficient yellow interval. 360 high-resolution vehicle trajectories, used in the study, were obtained from an extensive survey at a typical rural high-speed intersection in Shanghai. Results indicate that with the presence of a flashing green signal, the measured behavioral parameters related to DZ determination at the onset of yellow tend to be remarkably smaller. The vast majority of drivers reacted to the onset of flashing green, instead of yellow onset. Flashing green significantly reduced the area of Type I DZ at the onset of yellow, while enlarged the areas of option zone and Type II DZ. Time to stop line at the onset of flashing green positively affected the stopping probability. Flashing green induced conservative stops by 30%, while encouraged aggressive passes slightly.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
This study was jointly supported by the Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51208380) and National Key Technology Support Program (No. 2014BAG03B02). The authors are grateful to Professor Hideki Nakamura at Nagoya University for providing the image-processing software for data reduction.
References
Appiah, J., Naik, B., Wojtal, R., and Rilett, L. R. (2011). “Safety effectiveness of actuated advance warning systems.”, Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC, 19–24.
Bonneson, J. A., McCoy, P. T., and Moen Brian, A. (1994). Traffic detector design and evaluation guidelines, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Univ. of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE.
Chang, M. S., Messer, C. J., and Santiago, A. J. (1985). “Timing traffic signal change intervals based on driver behavior.”, Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC, 20–30.
Chiou, Y. C., and Chang, C. H. (2010). “Driver responses to green and red vehicular signal countdown displays: Safety and efficiency aspects.” Accid. Anal. Prev., 42(4), 1057–1065.
Factor, R., Prashker, J. N., and Mahalel, D. (2012). “The flashing green light paradox.” Transp. Res. Part F, 15(3), 279–288.
Gazis, D., Herman, R., and Maradudin, A. (1960). “The problem of the amber signal light in traffic flow.” Oper. Res., 8(1), 112–132.
Hakkert, A. S., and Mahalel, D. (1978). “Effect of traffic signals on road accidents–With special reference to introduction of a blinking green phase.” Traffic Eng. Control, 19(5), 212–215.
Hurwitz, D. S., Knodler, M. A., and Nyquist, B. (2011). “Evaluation of driver behavior in type II dilemma zones at high-speed signalized intersections.” J. Transp. Eng., 277–286.
Köll, H., Bader, M., and Axhausen, K. W. (2004). “Driver behavior during flashing green before yellow: A comparative study.” Accid. Anal. Prev., 36(2), 273–280.
Li, P. F., and Abbas, M. (2010). “Stochastic dilemma hazard model at high-speed signalized intersections.” J. Transp. Eng., 448–456.
Li, Z., Wei, H., Xiong, H., and Yan, X. (2013). “Optimized advance detector configuration for option zone protection at high speed signalized intersections.”, Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC, 60–72.
Lum, K. M., and Halim, H. (2006). “A before-and-after study on green signal countdown device installation.” Transp. Res. Part F, 9(1), 29–41.
Ma, W., Liu, Y., and Yang, X. (2010). “Investigating the impacts of green signal countdown devices: Empirical approach and case study in China.” J. Transp. Eng., 1049–1055.
Mahalel, D., and Zaidel, D. (1985). “Safety evaluation of a flashing green light in traffic signal.” Traffic Eng. Control, 26(2), 79–81.
Mahalel, D., Zaidel, D., and Klein, T. (1985). “Driver’s decision process on termination of the green light.” Accid. Anal. Prev., 17(5), 373–380.
McCoy, P. T., and Pesti, G. (2003). “Improving dilemma-zone protection of advance detection with advance-warning flashers.”, Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC, 11–17.
Newton, C., Mussa, R. N., Sadalla, E. K., Burns, E. K., and Matthias, J. (1997). “Evaluation of an alternative traffic light change anticipation system.” Accid. Anal. Prev., 29(2), 201–209.
Papaioannou, P. (2007). “Driver behaviour, dilemma zone and safety effects at urban signalised intersections in Greece.” Accid. Anal. Prev., 39(1), 147–158.
Parsonson, P. S., Roseveare, R. W., and Thomas, J. M. (1974). “Small-area detection at intersection approaches.” J. Transp. Eng., 44(5), 8–17.
Quiroga, C., Kraus, E., Schalkwyk, I. V., and Bonneson, J. (2003). Red light running–A policy review, Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX.
Sharma, A., Vanajakshi, L., and Rao, N. (2009). “Effect of phase countdown timers on queue discharge characteristics under heterogeneous traffic conditions.”, Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC, 93–100.
Sharma, A., Vanajakshi, L. G. V., and Harshitha, M. S. (2011). “Impact of signal timing information on safety and efficiency of signalized intersections.” J. Transp. Eng., 467–478.
Sunkai, S. R., Messer, C. J., and Charara, H. (2005). “Performance of advance warning for end of green system for high-speed signalized intersections.”, Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC, 176–184.
Tang, K., Dong, S., Wang, F., Ni, Y., and Sun, J. (2012). “Behavior of riders of electric bicycles at onset of green and yellow at signalized intersections in China.”, Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC, 85–96.
Van der Horst, R., and Wilmink, A. (1986). “Drivers’ decision making at signalized intersections: An optimization of the yellow timing.” Traffic Eng. Control, 27(12), 615–622.
Yan, X., Radwan, E., Guo, D., and Richards, S. (2009). “Impact of “Signal Ahead” pavement marking on driver behavior at signalized intersections.” Transp. Res. Part F, 12(1), 50–67.
Zegeer, C. V. (1977). Effectiveness of green-extension systems at high-speed intersections, Dept. of Transportation, Lexington, KY.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
© 2015 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: May 23, 2014
Accepted: Jan 6, 2015
Published online: Mar 9, 2015
Published in print: Jul 1, 2015
Discussion open until: Aug 9, 2015
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.