|
Strategy E3. Install Splitter Islands on the Minor-Road Approach to an IntersectionNCHRP Report 500 / Volume 5: A Guide for Addressing Unsignalized Intersection Collisions WHERE TO USEMinor road approaches to unsignalized intersections where the presence of the intersection or the stop sign is not readily visible to approaching motorists. The strategy is particularly appropriate for intersections where the speeds on the minor road are high.
DETAILSDETAILSMany unsignalized intersections are not visible to approaching drivers. Thus, intersection crashes may occur because one or more drivers may be unaware of the intersection. "Splitter" islands can be installed on minor road approaches to call attention to the presence of the intersection and to guide traffic through the intersection. A splitter island refers to a channelizing island that separates traffic in opposing directions of travel, as opposed to islands that separate merging or diverging traffic in the same direction of travel. Splitter islands are particularly appropriate on approaches to skewed intersections. KEY TO SUCCESSDesigning the island in accordance with the principles of channelization presented in the AASHTO Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets and NCHRP Report 279: Intersection Channelization Design Guide. The visibility of the splitter island will, in part, depend on its placement relative to the profile of the major road. ISSUESThere is a potential for the safety effectiveness of splitter islands to be negated if the shoulder is used in place of widening the roadbed to accomplish the channelization. Raised islands on a minor street could also become a safety hazard along a high-speed major roadway if not designed and delineated properly. TIME FRAME: MediumIntersection improvements involving splitter islands generally take approximately 1 to 2 years to design and construct. Significant channelization may require minor right-of-way acquisition, which could further increase implementation time. COSTS: ModerateCosts involved in implementing splitter islands are moderate, unless acquisition of additional right-of-way is required, in which case costs may be higher. EFFECTIVENESSTRIED: Splitter islands are generally perceived to be effective in defining the presence of an intersection. When properly applied, they may reduce traffic speeds and intersection crashes, but there is no consensus on their effectiveness. An Australian study concluded that installing splitter islands on minor road approaches can reduce injury crashes by 35% at rural locations and by 40% at urban locations. COMPATIBILITYThis strategy can be used in conjunction with most other strategies for improving safety at unsignalized intersections. For more details on this and other countermeasures: http://safety.transportation.org For more information contact: FHWA Office of Safety Design FHWA Resource Center – Safety and Design Team 
|
Program ContactEd Rice Jeffrey Shaw What’s NewRoundabout Outreach and Education Toolbox Stop-Controlled Intersection Safety: Through Route Activated Warning Systems Roundabouts: An Informational Guide, Second Edition (NCHRP Report 672) Roundabouts Peer-to-Peer Assistance How to drive a roundabout (WSDOT) Modern Roundabouts: A Safer Choice FHWA's Intersection Resources Library CD-ROM HighlightsMini-Roundabouts Technical Summary Access Management in the Vicinity of Intersections Technical Summary Intersection Safety Case Studies Intersection Safety Technologies Presentation: Intersection Safety Example Intersection Safety Implementation Plan |
