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FHWA / AASHTO Scan Signalized Intersection Safety

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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

• Nazir Lalani
  Principal Engineer, Transportation Dept., County of Ventura

• 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

• James W. Sparks
  Deputy Street Transportation Director, City of Phoenix, AZ

• 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

• 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.

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

• 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.

• 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

• 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

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