Compared to traditional intersections, roundabouts have been proven to decrease serious crashes. However, because drivers yield rather than stop upon entering roundabouts and at crosswalks, public concerns about pedestrian and bicyclist safety remain. Research and field evaluations into driver yielding and speed behaviors generated insights to guide local transportation agencies and MnDOT to further enhance pedestrian safety at roundabouts.
Continue reading Enhancing Safety for Pedestrians and Bicyclists at RoundaboutsTag Archives: driver behavior
New Project: Speed Impacts from Roundabouts and Other Traffic Control Devices
Roundabouts are effective at reducing driver speeds and lowering serious crash rates compared to other intersection types. Speeds vary in roundabouts, however, depending on geometric factors such as the number of lanes, entry and exit widths, and diameter. The use of supplementary control devices such as sign types, sign placement and pavement markings may also impact entry and exit speeds.
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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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Understanding Factors That Influence Driver Yielding to Pedestrians
Vehicle speeds, type of pedestrian, road characteristics and other variables can impact whether drivers yield to pedestrians attempting to cross a road at an unsignalized intersection. An analysis of data collected from 18 intersections identified human and site attributes that correlate to higher rates of driver yielding. Knowledge of these potentially influential factors will help local engineers build safer crossings at intersections.
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Drivers Correctly Interpret Flashing Yellow Arrows for Left Turns
Permissive left turns, where a driver does not have a green arrow and must wait for a gap in oncoming traffic before turning, can be indicated by different traffic signal configurations. Flashing yellow arrows are becoming a preferred signal type in Minnesota and across the nation. New research provides traffic engineers with confidence that drivers understand the meaning of the signal, even without an accompanying Left Turn Yield sign.
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How Well Do Stop Lines Work as a Safety Feature?
How well do the stop lines at stop-controlled intersections actually work as a safety feature? Through an extensive safety study and a before-after field observation, a recent Minnesota Local Road Research Board study showed that the assumed safety effects of stop lines as a means of influencing driver behavior are not well supported by the evidence.
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