• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.30 no.3D
• /
• pp.231-240
• /
• 2010

As majority of the traffic accidents in intersections is caused by human factor, a close examination is required on its contributing factors through measuring the psychological and physiological response according to the driving characteristics of the drivers and the road conditions. In this study, for the safety evaluation of individual intersection considering human factors of the drivers, electroencephalography reaction was measured utilizing cutting-edge measuring equipment and survey on drivers' cognitive characteristics in ordinary times and while driving test was conducted. The relationship between the electroencephalography response when approaching the intersection and cognitive evaluation survey data in driving test was clarified, and individual intersection safety evaluation model was built considering cognitive evaluation factor and the reaction of a bio-response electroencephalography data. As a result, I could find out that cognitive evaluation was made through the reaction of a bio-response (Electroencephalography) process because electroencephalography reaction of a bio-response showed differently by the physical characteristics of the intersection and cognitive evaluation had a difference.

• Proceedings of the KOR-KST Conference
• /
• 1996.02a
• /
• pp.59-86
• /
• 1996

Current methods for evaluating unsignalized intersections, and estimating level-of-service (LOS) is determined from efficiency-based criteria such as little or no delay to very long delays. At present, similar procedures to evaluate intersections using safety-based criteria do not exist. The improvement of sight distances at intersections is the most effective way of improving intersection safety. However, a set of procedures is necessary to account for the limitations in current methodology. Such an approach would build upon such methods, but also account for: deficiencies in the current deterministic solution for the determination of intersection sight distances; opportunity for an accident and severity of an accident; and cost-effectiveness of attaining various levels of sight distances. In this research, a model that estimates the degree of safety at two-way stop-controlled intersections is described. Only crossing maneuvers are considered in this study because accidents caused by the crossing maneuvers are the dominate type among intersection accidents. Monte Carlo methods are used to estimate the hazard at an intersection as a function of roadway features and traffic conditions. Driver`s minimum gap acceptance in the crossing vehicles and headway distribution on the major road are used in the crossing vehicles and headway distribution on the major road are used in the model to simulate the real intersectional maneuvers. Other random variables addressed in the model are: traffic speeds; preception-reaction times of both drivers in the crossing vehicles and drivers in oncoming vehicles on the major road; and vehicles on the major roads. The developed model produces the total number of conflicts per year per vehicle and total potential kinetic energy per year per vehicle dissipated during conflicts as measurements of safety at intersections. Based on the results from the developed simulation model, desirable sight distances for various speeds were determined as 350 feet, 450 feet and 550 feet for 40 mph, 50 mph and 60 mph prevailing speed on the major road, respectively. These values are seven to eight percent less than those values recommended by AASHTO. A safety based level-of-service (LOS) is also developed using the results of the simulation model. When the total number of conflicts per vehicle is less than 0.05 at an intersection, the LOS of the intersection is `A' and when the total number of conflicts per vehicle is larger than 0.25 at an intersection, the LOS is `F'. Similarly, when the total hazard per vehicle is less than 350, 000 1b-ft2/sec2, the LOS is `F'. Once evaluation of the current safety at the intersection is complete, a sensitivity analysis can be done by changing one or more input parameters. This will estimate the benefit in terms of time and budget of hazard reduction based upon improving geometric and traffic characteristics at the intersection. This method will also enable traffic engineers in local governments to generate a priority list of intersection improvement projects.

• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.91-102
• /
• 2009

A traffic accident prediction model developed using various design variables(road design variables, geometric variables, and traffic environmental variables) is one of the most important factors to safety design evaluation system for roads. However, statistical accident models have a crucial problem not applicable for all intersections. To make up this problem, this study developed AMFs(Accident Modification Factors) through statistical modeling methods, historical accident databases, judgment from traffic experts, and literature review by considering design variable's characteristics, traffic accident rates, and traffic accident frequency. AMFs developed in this study include exclusive left-turn lane, exclusive right-turn lane, sight distance, and intersection angle. Predictabilities of the developed AMFs and the existing accident prediction models are compared with real accident historical data. The results showed that performances of the developed AMFs are superior to the existing statistical accident prediction models. These findings show that AMFs should be considered as a important process to develop safety design evaluation algorithms. Additionally, AMFs could be used as an index that can judge the impact of corresponding design variables on accidents in rural intersections.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
• /
• v.10 no.4
• /
• pp.53-63
• /
• 2008

Even though accident frequencies in roadway segments have been decreasing since 2000, there has been increasing the number of vehicle crashes at intersections. Due to this increase, safety problems at intersection recently started to be regarded as significant issues. The purpose of this study is to analyze the effects of road conditions, traffic operational conditions, and other influencing condition on intersection safety. Then a traffic accident frequency prediction model to evaluate the safety at intersections was developed based on the correlations between influencing factors and vehicle crashes. In this research, critically significant factors affecting vehicle crashes at rural four-legs signalized intersections were investigated. It was found that Poisson regression was the best fit method to developing a accident frequency modeling using the collected data in this study. Through this study, it was concluded that exclusive left turn lane, crosswalk, posted speed, lighting, angle, and ADT are significant influencing factors on the intersection safety.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
• /
• v.15 no.4
• /
• pp.135-146
• /
• 2013

PURPOSES : This study aimed to analyze the impact the operation of pre-signals at 4-leg signalized intersections and present primary environmental factors of roads that need to be considered in the installation of pre-signals. METHODS : Shift of proportions safety effectiveness evaluation method which assesses shifts in proportions of target collision types to determine safety effectiveness was applied to analyze traffic crash by types. Also, Empirical Bayes before/after safety effectiveness evaluation method was adapted to analyze the impact pre-signal installation. Negative binomial regression was conducted to determine SPF(safety performance function). RESULTS : Pre-signals are effective in reducing the number of head on, right angle and sideswipe collisions and both the total number of personal injury crashes and severe crashes. Also, it is deemed that each factor used as an independent variable for the SPF model has strong correlation with the total number of personal injury crashes and severe crashes, and impacts general traffic crashes as a whole. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests the following should be considered in pre-signal installation on intersections. 1) U-turns allowed in the front and rear 2) A high number of roads that connect to the intersection 3) Many right-turn traffic flows 4) Crosswalks installed in the front and rear 5) Insufficient left-turn lanes compared to left-turn traffic flows or no left-turn-only lane.

• Proceedings of the KOR-KST Conference
• /
• 1995.02a
• /
• pp.3-32
• /
• 1995

The Highway Capacity Manual specifies procedures for evaluating intersection performance in terms of delay per vehicle. What is lacking in the current methodology is a comparable quantitative procedure for ass~ssing the safety-based level of service provided to motorists. The objective of the research described herein was to develop a computational procedure for evaluating the safety-based level of service of signalized intersections based on the relative hazard of alternative intersection designs and signal timing plans. Conflict opportunity models were developed for those crossing, diverging, and stopping maneuvers which are associated with left-turn and rear-end accidents. Safety¬based level-of-service criteria were then developed based on the distribution of conflict opportunities computed from the developed models. A case study evaluation of the level of service analysis methodology revealed that the developed safety-based criteria were not as sensitive to changes in prevailing traffic, roadway, and signal timing conditions as the traditional delay-based measure. However, the methodology did permit a quantitative assessment of the trade-off between delay reduction and safety improvement. The Highway Capacity Manual (HCM) specifies procedures for evaluating intersection performance in terms of a wide variety of prevailing conditions such as traffic composition, intersection geometry, traffic volumes, and signal timing (1). At the present time, however, performance is only measured in terms of delay per vehicle. This is a parameter which is widely accepted as a meaningful and useful indicator of the efficiency with which an intersection is serving traffic needs. What is lacking in the current methodology is a comparable quantitative procedure for assessing the safety-based level of service provided to motorists. For example, it is well¬known that the change from permissive to protected left-turn phasing can reduce left-turn accident frequency. However, the HCM only permits a quantitative assessment of the impact of this alternative phasing arrangement on vehicle delay. It is left to the engineer or planner to subjectively judge the level of safety benefits, and to evaluate the trade-off between the efficiency and safety consequences of the alternative phasing plans. Numerous examples of other geometric design and signal timing improvements could also be given. At present, the principal methods available to the practitioner for evaluating the relative safety at signalized intersections are: a) the application of engineering judgement, b) accident analyses, and c) traffic conflicts analysis. Reliance on engineering judgement has obvious limitations, especially when placed in the context of the elaborate HCM procedures for calculating delay. Accident analyses generally require some type of before-after comparison, either for the case study intersection or for a large set of similar intersections. In e.ither situation, there are problems associated with compensating for regression-to-the-mean phenomena (2), as well as obtaining an adequate sample size. Research has also pointed to potential bias caused by the way in which exposure to accidents is measured (3, 4). Because of the problems associated with traditional accident analyses, some have promoted the use of tqe traffic conflicts technique (5). However, this procedure also has shortcomings in that it.requires extensive field data collection and trained observers to identify the different types of conflicts occurring in the field. The objective of the research described herein was to develop a computational procedure for evaluating the safety-based level of service of signalized intersections that would be compatible and consistent with that presently found in the HCM for evaluating efficiency-based level of service as measured by delay per vehicle (6). The intent was not to develop a new set of accident prediction models, but to design a methodology to quantitatively predict the relative hazard of alternative intersection designs and signal timing plans.

• Journal of Information Technology Services
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.223-234
• /
• 2017

The audible pedestrian signal (APS) is an add-on device which connects to the pedestrian signaling device and informs the contents and changes of the signaling by sound. It provides walking direction information of the pedestrian crossing so that the blind people can safely cross the pedestrian crossing. In an intersection where a plurality of audible pedestrian signal (APS) are installed at an intersection crosswalk, existing audible pedestrian signal (APS) operate simultaneously in the communication radius of a wireless remote controller, which may cause confusion for the blind people and the public may complain about the noise. In this paper, we developed a BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy)-based audible pedestrian signal (APS) system capable of supporting two-way communications with a smart-phone that can cross the intersection safely and improve the walking comfort and traffic safety for the blind people. The proposed method is a method in which the BLE beacon communication based audible pedestrian signal (APS) presents active service to the blind people, and the existing audible pedestrian signal (APS) is a way of requesting the passive service by the blind people with the wireless remote control by the unidirectional communication based on 358Mhz. The developed system is installed in the crossroad of Doma-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon, and it is tested and operated by the blind people. The satisfaction evaluation and analysis of the audible pedestrian signal (APS) for the blind people have good results and are planned to be expanded in the future.

• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.105-115
• /
• 2002

For many rears, traffic accident statistics are the most direct measure of safety for a signalized intersection. However it takes more than 2 or 3 yearn to collect certain accident data for adequate sample sizes. And the accident data itself is unreliable because of the difference between accident data recorded and accident that is actually occurred. Therefore, it is rather difficult to evaluate safety for a intersection by using accident data. For these reasons, traffic conflict technique(TCT) was developed as a buick and accurate counter-measure of safety for a intersection. However, the collected conflict data is not always reliable because there is absence of clear criteria for conflict. This study developed objective and accurate conflict criteria, which is shown below based on traffic engineering theory. Frist, the rear-end conflict is regarded, when the following vehicle takes evasive maneuver against the first vehicle within a certain distance, according to car-following theory. Second, lane-change conflict is regarded when the following vehicle takes evasive maneuver against first vehicle which is changing its lane within the minimum stopping distance of the following vehicle. Third, cross and opposing-left turn conflicts are regarded when the vehicle which receives green sign takes evasive maneuver against the vehicle which lost its right-of-way crossing a intersection. As a result of correlation analysis between conflict and accident, it is verified that the suggested conflict criteria in this study ave applicable. And it is proven that estimating safety evaluation for a intersection with conflict data is possible, according to the regression analysis preformed between accident and conflict, EPDO accident and conflict. Adopting the conflict criteria suggested in this study would be both quick and accurate method for diagnosing safety and operational deficiencies and for evaluation improvements at intersections. Further research is required to refine the suggested conflict criteria to extend its application. In addition, it is necessary to develope other types of conflict criteria, not included in this study, in later study.

• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.169-178
• /
• 2008

Level of Service (LOS) is one of ways to evaluate operational conditions. It is very important factor in evaluation especially for the facility of highways. However, some studies proved that ${\upsilon}/c$ ratio and accident rate is appeared like a second function which has a U-form. It means there is a gap between LOS and safety of highway facilities. Therefore, this study presents a method for evaluation of a signalized intersection which is considered both smooth traffic operation (delay) and traffic safety (accident). Firstly, as a result of our research, accident rates and EPDO are decreased when it has a big delay. In that reason, it is necessary to make a new Level of Service included traffic safety. Secondly, this study has developed a negative binominal regression model which is based on the relation between accident patterns and stream. Thirdly, standards of LOS are presented which is originated from calculation between annual delay costs and annual accident cost at each intersection. Lastly, worksheet form is presented as an expression to an estimation step of a signalized intersection with traffic accident prediction model and new LOS.

• The Journal of The Korea Institute of Intelligent Transport Systems
• /
• v.16 no.5
• /
• pp.96-108
• /
• 2017

The current collision warning and avoidance system(CWAS) is one of the representative Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) that significantly contributes to improve the safety performance of a vehicle and mitigate the severity of an accident. However, current CWAS mainly have focused on preventing a forward collision in an uninterrupted flow, and the prevention performance near intersections and other various types of accident scenarios are not extensively studied. In this paper, the safety performance of Vision-Sensor (VS) and Radar-Sensor(RS) - based collision warning systems are evaluated near an intersection area with the data from Naturalistic Driving Study(NDS) of Second Strategic Highway Research Program(SHRP2). Based on the VS and RS data, we newly derived sixteen vehicle-to-vehicle accident scenarios near an intersection. Then, we evaluated the detection performance of VS and RS within the derived scenarios. The results showed that VS and RS can prevent an accident in limited situations due to their restrained field-of-view. With an accident prevention rate of 0.7, VS and RS can prevent an accident in five and four scenarios, respectively. For an efficient accident prevention, a different system that can detect vehicles'movement with longer range than VS and RS is required as well as an algorithm that can predict the future movement of other vehicles. In order to further improve the safety performance of CWAS near intersection areas, a communication-based collision warning system such as integration algorithm of data from infrastructure and in-vehicle sensor shall be developed.