FHWA / AASHTO Scan Signalized Intersection Safety May 10, 2002 through May 26, 2002 (Download PPT version, 14.5 Mb)

Scan Approach

• Develop an overview paper framing the issues and scope
• Assemble a diversified team of experts
• Complete a desk scan report to identify agencies to visit abroad
• Develop amplifying questions for host agencies
• Complete scan and prepare summary report
• Implement promising strategies

Goals and Objectives

• To identify promising and readily implementable intersection-safety solutions and/or programs for deployment in the United States.
• To identify and overcome implementation barriers and special needs.
• To gather specific examples and documentation

The Scan Team - 13 Members

• Representatives:
  • 3 - FHWA
  • 1 - AASHTO
  • 3 - State DOT’s
  • 3 - Municipal Transportation Agencies
  • 1 - University
  • 2 - Private sector/non-profit

The Scanning Team

The Team

Gene K. Fong, Co-Chair
Director of Field Services – East, FHWA

James H. Kopf, Co-Chair
Chief Engineer, Deputy Executive Director
Mississippi DOT

Philip J. Clark
Deputy Chief Engineer/Director Design Division
NY State DOT

Rick Collins
Engineer of Traffic, TX DOT

Richard A. Cunard
Engineer of Traffic and Operations
Transportation Research Board

Ken F. Kobetsky
Program Director for Engineering
AASHTO

Fred N. Ranck
Safety Engineer, FHWA Midwestern Resource Center

Robert K. Seyfried
Director, Transportation Engineering Division
Northwestern University

Kevin Slack
VP, Senior Transportation Engineer
CH2M Hill

Rudolph M. Umbs, P.E.
Chief Highway Safety Engineer
FHWA

Stephen N. Van Winkle
Director of Public Works
City of Peoria

Six Focus Areas

• Selection,Design, Operation of Traffic Control Devices
• Innovative Traffic Control Devices
• Innovative Geometric Design
• Identify Problems & Select Countermeasures
• Low Cost Improvements
• Research Projects

Countries Visited

Working Meetings

55 presentations followed by Q. and A.

Site Visits

Findings & Observations - Sweden

• Intersection Safety driven by national Goals set forth in "Vision Zero" (50% reduction in fatalities 1997 to 2007) 
• Safety efforts are focused on fatalities and injuries (serious accidents)
• Emphasize the safety of vulnerable road users (peds & bikes)
• Developed LHOVRA to address safety at isolated intersections
• Special detectors being used at school crossings 

Findings & Observations - Germany

• Local, multidisciplinary, safety commissions set safety priorities and identify solutions
• Thorough, uniform calculations are completed to determine conflict clearance for all modes of travel at signalized intersections
• Extensive use of pavement markings for peds & bikes
• Use cameras for red light running and speed enforcement
• Formalized safety checklists are completed during design phase (safety audits)

Findings & Observations - The Netherlands

• Intersection safety driven by national sustainable safety goals
• Philosophy is to reduce speed through intersections.
• Extensive use of photo enforcement to control speed and red light running
• Converting signalized intersections to roundabouts (rural)
• Use of comprehensive public relations campaigns to convey safety message
• Consistency by functional classification is a  key to safety

Findings & Observations -  United Kingdom

• Challenged to balance safety with congestion/mobility
• Developed MOVA to improve safety and operations at isolated locations

Findings & Observations -  United Kingdom (cont.)

• Detector technology being deployed to improve safety and operations of ped. & bike crossings
• Using accident prediction models for signalized intersection design (OSCADY)
• Comprehensive safety audit process - Planning, Design, Construction, Operation

Preliminary Recommendations

• Develop model photo enforcement process/program for implementation at signalized intersections
  • Build on European experience
  • Communicate process through ITE, AASHTO, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, etc.

Preliminary Recommendations

Identify and implement demonstration projects for enhanced dilemma zone detection using
principals of LHOVRA & MOVA

Preliminary Recommendations

• Develop a pilot project to control speed through intersections using a combination of practices implemented in Europe
  • Geometric (lane widths & speed tables)
  • Pavement markings
  • Variable message signs
  • Photo enforcement, etc.

Preliminary Recommendations

• Promote understanding and the application of single lane roundabouts as alternatives to signalized intersections 
  • Emphasis on managing the consequences of collisions
  • Efficient use of computer simulation (operational and geometric)
  • Determine the appropriate circumstances

Preliminary Recommendations

• Develop Guidelines and identify pilot projects to enhance pedestrian Crossings
  • pedestrian detection technology
  • audible pedestrian signals
  • Pedestrian Countdown indicators
  • improve communication with drivers and pedestrians

Next Steps

• Draft report by early September 2002
  • Team and agency Review by November 2002.
  • Final Report Spring 2003
• Implementation begins May 28, 2003

Implementation Team Contacts

• Fred Ranck, Chairman - Safety Engineer, Midwestern Resource Center, FHWA - 708-283-3545, fred.ranck@fhwa.dot.gov
• Rick Collins - Engineer of Traffic, TexDOT -
  512-416-3135, rcollins@dot.state.tx.us
• Ken Kobetsky - Program Director for Engineering, AASHTO -
  202-624-5254, kenk@aashto.org
• Nazir Lalani - Principal Engineer, County of Ventura -
  805-654-2080, nazir.lalani@mail.co.ventura.ca.us
• Jim Sparks - Deputy Street Transportation Director, City of Phoenix - 602-262-4435, jsparks@ci.phoenix.az.us
• Rudolph Umbs - Chief Highway Safety Engineer, FHWA -
  202-365-3285, rudolph.umbs@fhwa.dot.gov

Team Information Sharing

• Mississippi Transportation Institute, Oct 2002
• AASHTO Subcommittee on Design, Jun 2002
• AASHTO Subcommittee on Traffic Engineering, Jun. 2002
• AASHTO Task Force on Geometric Design, Jun 2002
• AASHTO Annual Meeting, Oct 2003
• AASHTO Standing Committee on Traffic Safety
• AASHTO Standing Committee on Highways
• FHWA Annual Leadership Meeting, Jun 2002
• FHWA Signalized Intersection Design Guidelines Task Force

Team Information Sharing

• National Committee on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (NCUTCD), Jun 2002
• NCUTCD, Jan 2003
• American Public Works Association, Sep 2002
• TxDOT Traffic Operations Conference, June 2002
• Northwestern University Continuing Education Courses:
  • Traffic Signal Workshop
  • Traffic Control Devices Workshop
  • Traffic and Transportation Engineering Seminar
  • Bicycle Facilities Planning and Design Workshop
  • Pedestrian Facilities Planning and Design Workshop

Team Information Sharing

• ITE International Meeting, Aug 2002
• ITE, Illinois Section, Oct 2002
• ITE, Intermountian Section, May 2002
• ITE, Arizona Section Sep 2002
• ITE, Local Sections in CA, NV, OR, WA
• ITE, Fundamentals of Traffic Engineering Course, Oct 2002, Jan 2003, May 2003
• TRB Signalized Intersection Committee Meeting, Jul 2002
• European Transport Forum, Sep 2002
• TRB Sessions at the national meeting, Jan 2003
• Urban Street Design Symposium, Sep 2003

FHWA / AASHTO Scan

Signalized Intersection Safety

Questions?