New Project: Rural Intersection Enhancement and Driver Behavior Study

The risk of severe crashes increases when minor roads intersect with higher-speed roads in rural areas. MnDOT and county traffic engineers strive to find creative solutions that will prompt drivers to make safe decisions when navigating through intersections.

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J-turn intersection designs, while not initially familiar to some drivers, have safety benefits because they include fewer potential conflict points, restricting straight crossing and left turns. Placing drivers at a stop sign closer to the intersection may also increase sight distances and decrease speeds of mainline drivers.

Understanding how drivers react to various J-turn configurations and the placement of stop bars before stop signs will support agencies in designing intersection treatments for optimal safety.

“The research will suggest how drivers react to J-turns in different scenarios and the impact of the distance between a stop bar and a stop sign,” said Vic Lund, traffic engineer, St. Louis County. “Understanding what encourages safe driving behavior will help us design and maintain our rural intersections.”

Objectives

In a new project, researchers will analyze driver behavior at J-turn and undivided, thru-STOP intersections through simulations and field observations to understand how to support driver decision-making and safe-crossing behaviors.

The objectives are: