The Effect of Stop Control on Ultra Low Volume Intersection Safety

The Effect of Stop Control on Ultra Low Volume Intersection Safety

Author: Ryan John Tenges

Publisher:

Published: 2005

Total Pages: 154

ISBN-13:

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It is commonly regarded that the over-use of traffic control devices desensitizes drivers and leads to disrespect, especially for low volume secondary roads with limited enforcement. The maintenance of traffic signs is also a tort liability concern, exacerbated by unnecessary signs. The Federal Highway Administration's Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) and the Institute of Transportation Engineer's Traffic Control Devices Handbook provide guidance for the implementation of STOP signs based on expected compliance with right-of-way rules, provision of through traffic flow, context (proximity to other controlled intersections), speed, sight distance, and crash history. The approaches to stop are left to engineering judgment and are usually dependent on traffic volume or functional class/continuity of system. Although presently being considered by the National Committee on Traffic Control Devices, traffic volume is not given as a criterion for implementation in the MUTCD. STOP signs have been installed at many locations for various reasons which no longer meet engineering needs. If in fact the presence of STOP signs does not increase safety, removal should be considered. To date, however, no guidance exists for the removal of STOP signs at two-way stop controlled intersections. The scope of this research is ultra low volume (


Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Stop Lines in Increasing the Safety of Stop-controlled Intersections

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Stop Lines in Increasing the Safety of Stop-controlled Intersections

Author: Melissa Duhn

Publisher:

Published: 2020

Total Pages: 200

ISBN-13:

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Stop lines are ubiquitous, but do they really impact intersection safety? Prior to this project, no long-term studies on intersection safety with stop lines had been completed. This project was developed with two parallel research efforts: a safety study and an observational study. The safety study was developed to address stop lines’ effects over the long term and used crash data from five cities’ stop-controlled intersections to perform regression and see if stop lines actually influenced safety. The observational study was developed to determine if stop lines have an effect on driver behavior at intersections and to look at where drivers were stopping. Video was collected at 16 different intersections before and after a stop line was painted. The safety study and observational study showed that stop lines did not have a significant impact on driver behavior or intersection safety, but other factors like speed limits and sight distance did. Implications for practice include carefully examining sight distance at the intended stopping point to ensure drivers have adequate sight distance in both directions. If sight distance is not adequate, moving the intended stop location or reconsidering whether the intersection should have signage -- stop or yield -- or be uncontrolled could yield better driver compliance and safety.


Traffic Signal Timing Manual

Traffic Signal Timing Manual

Author: U.s. Department of Transportation

Publisher: CreateSpace

Published: 2015-02-20

Total Pages: 286

ISBN-13: 9781508557173

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This report serves as a comprehensive guide to traffic signal timing and documents the tasks completed in association with its development. The focus of this document is on traffic signal control principles, practices, and procedures. It describes the relationship between traffic signal timing and transportation policy and addresses maintenance and operations of traffic signals. It represents a synthesis of traffic signal timing concepts and their application and focuses on the use of detection, related timing parameters, and resulting effects to users at the intersection. It discusses advanced topics briefly to raise awareness related to their use and application. The purpose of the Signal Timing Manual is to provide direction and guidance to managers, supervisors, and practitioners based on sound practice to proactively and comprehensively improve signal timing. The outcome of properly training staff and proactively operating and maintaining traffic signals is signal timing that reduces congestion and fuel consumption ultimately improving our quality of life and the air we breathe. This manual provides an easy-to-use concise, practical and modular guide on signal timing. The elements of signal timing from policy and funding considerations to timing plan development, assessment, and maintenance are covered in the manual. The manual is the culmination of research into practices across North America and serves as a reference for a range of practitioners, from those involved in the day to day management, operation and maintenance of traffic signals to those that plan, design, operate and maintain these systems.