Keywords

traffic signals, signals, safety, before and after, signal warrant, crash study, crash rate

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis is to explore how the installations of traffic signals affect crash experience at intersections, to identify those factors which help predict crashes after a signal is installed, and to develop a crash prediction model. It is the intent of this thesis to supplement the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices Signal Warrant procedure and aid the traffic engineer in the signal installation decision making process. Crash data, as well as operational and geometric factors were examined for 32 state road intersections in the northeast Florida area before and after signal installation. Signal warrant studies were used as sources for traffic volumes, geometric information and crash history, before signal installation. The Florida Department of Transportation's Crash Analysis Reporting System (CARS) was used to gather crash data for the time period after signal installation. On average, the 32 intersections experienced a 12% increase in the total number of crashes and a 26% reduction in crash rate after signals were installed. The change in the number of crashes was not significant, but the rate change was significant with 90% confidence. Angle crash frequency dropped by 60% and the angle crash rate dropped by 66%, both are significant. Left-turn crashes dropped by 8% and their rate by 16%, although neither was significant. Rear-end crashes increased by 86% and the rear-end crash rate decreased by 5%. Neither of these changes was statistically significant. When crash severity was examined, it was found that the number of injury crashes increased by 64.8% and the rate by only 0.02%. Neither change was significant. Both the number of fatal crashes and the rate decreased by 100% and were significant. Property Damage Only (PDO) crashes increased by 96%, after signalization, but this change was not significant. The PDO rate, however, decreased by 46.5% and is significant. Operational factors such as AADT, turning movement counts, and speed limits; and geometric factors such as medians, turn lanes and numbers of lanes were considered to determine their effect on crashes at signalized intersections. Smaller roads, with low AADT, fewer lanes, and a rural character were found to benefit from signalization more than busier urbanized roads, in terms of crash rate reduction. The AADT, roadway cross section, number of lanes, medians, speed limit and left turn volume were all found to be important factors influencing crash rates. This thesis recommends: 1) the use of crash prediction models to supplement the MUTCD Crash Warrant, 2) the addition of a left-turn warrant to the MUTCD signal warranting procedure, and 3) development of an intersection database containing crash data as well as operational and geometric information to aid in future research.

Notes

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Graduation Date

2006

Semester

Summer

Advisor

Abdel-Aty, Mohamed

Degree

Master of Science in Civil Engineering (M.S.C.E.)

College

College of Engineering and Computer Science

Department

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Degree Program

Civil Engineering

Format

application/pdf

Identifier

CFE0001335

URL

http://purl.fcla.edu/fcla/etd/CFE0001335

Language

English

Length of Campus-only Access

None

Access Status

Masters Thesis (Open Access)

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