Citation

Preston H, Coakley R. ITE J. 2008; 78(12): 24-28.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, Institute of Transportation Engineers)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Many states are reevaluating their approach to addressing intersection safety. This new approach is based on adopting a new safety performance measure as part of the strategic safety planning process--setting goals to reduce the number of highway traffic-related fatalities. The traditional approach has been to address intersection crashes through a safety improvement process that focused on locations with an unusually high crash frequency, rate or severity. This process frequently directed intersection safety investments toward urban, high-volume signalized intersection locations. The new, more balanced approach includes proactively addressing conditions at low-volume stop-controlled intersection in rural areas rather than being almost entirely reactive to a high frequency of crashes. The new approach requires agencies to supplement their analytical tools to identify system-wide crash characteristics and to adjust their safety investment priorities to direct some of their resources to locations that are often rural, stop-controlled and located along local systems of highways. Minnesota is used as an example of a state that is using this new approach. Since 70% of Minnesota's fatal crashes are in rural areas, the state is looking for proactive way to improve safety in rural areas. Low-cost strategies could include systematic deployment of street lights and enhancing the traffic control devices on stop-controlled approaches.