Signalized Intersections
Overview
Outreach and Education
Technical Materials
Other Resources
Federal and State Research
National Partners
Overview
Traffic signals are electrically operated traffic control devices that provide indication for roadway users to advance their travels by alternately assigning right-of-way to each approach and movement. Traffic signals facilitate an ordered, shared use of road space by separating conflicting movements in time and allocating delay to the various users.
Traffic signals are most often chosen for operational reasons, and in some cases may represent a trade-off between safety and mobility. Great care must be taken when considering the signalization of an intersection, and the needs of all users – motorized and non-motorized – must be evaluated. The following table summarizes the number of people killed each year at signalized intersections in the United States, based on data extracted from the NHTSA Fatality Analysis and Reporting System (FARS).
| Year
| Total U.S. Traffic Fatalities |
Intersection Fatalities |
Signalized Intersection Fatalities |
Signalized Intersection Fatalities involving a Pedestrian |
Signalized Intersection Fatalities involving a Bicyclist |
| 2010 |
32,999 |
8,633 |
2,477 |
546 |
103 |
| 2011 |
32,479 |
8,317 |
2,442 |
559 |
136 |
| 2012 |
33,782 |
8,851 |
2,618 |
643 |
165 |
| 2013 |
32,894 |
8,676 |
2,622 |
623 |
159 |
| 2014 |
32,675 |
8,661 |
2,675 |
648 |
112 |
Outreach and Education
Intersection Safety Strategies Brochure, 2nd Edition (FHWA, 2015) [PDF]
Intersection Safety Case Studies
Retroreflective Borders on Traffic Signal Backplates (FHWA, 2010) [HTML] [PDF]
Removal of Signal Flashing Mode During Late-Night/Early-Morning Operation (FHWA, 2010) [HTML] [PDF]
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Improving Safety by Providing All Red Clearance Intervals and Larger Signal Lenses (FHWA, 2010) [HTML] [PDF]
- Permissive/Protected Left-Turn Phasing (FHWA, 2010) [HTML] [PDF]
Intersection Safety Issue Brief 5 – Traffic Signals (FHWA, 2009) [HTML] [PDF]
Intersection Safety Strategies Brochure, 1st Edition (FHWA, 2008) [HTML] [PDF]
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Technical Materials
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Federal Transportation Resources
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State Highway Agency Signalized Intersection Resources
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Americans with Disabilities Act ADA, Public Right-of-Way Accessibility Resources
- FHWA Accessibility Resource Library [HTML]
- Large Field Test of New Stereo Detection System for the Pedestrian Signal Phase for the Visually Impaired (FHWA, 2012) [HTML] [PDF]
- Proposed Guidelines for Pedestrian Facilities in the Public Right-of-Way – Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (U.S. Access Board, 2011) [HTML] [PDF]
- Pedestrian Safety Handbook (American Council of the Blind, 2011) [HTML]
- Accessible Pedestrian Signals: A Guide to Best Practices
- Website Resource [HTML]
- NCHRP Web-Only Document 150 – Workshop Edition 2010 (TRB, 2009) [PDF]
- NCHRP Web-Only Document 117A – Original Report (TRB, 2007) [PDF]
- Special Report: Accessible Public Rights-of-Way Planning and Design for Alterations (U.S. Access Board, 2007) [HTML]
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Other Resources
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Federal and State Research
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FHWA
- Safety Evaluation of Converting Traffic Signals from Incandescent to Light-Emitting Diodes (FHWA, 2013) [HTML] [PDF]
- Safety Evaluation of Discontinuing Late-Night Flash Operations at Signalized Intersections (FHWA, 2013) [HTML] [PDF]
- Where Pedestrians Cross the Roadway Tech Brief (FHWA, 2013) [HTML] [PDF]
- Balancing Safety and Capacity in an Adaptive Signal Control System – Phase 1 (FHWA, 2010) [HTML] [PDF]
- Beyond Traffic Signals: A Paradigm Shift – Intersection Control for Autonomous Vehicles (FHWA, 2009) [HTML] [PDF]
- Next-Generation Smart Traffic Signals (FHWA, 2009) [HTML] [PDF]
- Pedestrian and Bicyclist Intersection Safety Indices Final Report (FHWA, 2006) [HTML] [PDF]
- Driver Attitudes and Behaviors at Intersections and Potential Effectiveness of Engineering Countermeasures (FHWA, 2005) [HTML] [PDF]
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National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP)
- NCHRP Report 780 – Design Guidance for Intersection Auxiliary Lanes (TRB, 2014) [PDF]
- NCHRP Web-Only Document 207 – Evaluation of the Flashing Yellow Arrow Permissive Left-Turn in Shared Yellow Signal Sections (TRB, 2014) [PDF]
- NCHRP Web-Only Document 204 – Crash Experience Warrant for Traffic Signals (TRB, 2014) [PDF]
- NCHRP Report 707 – Guidelines on the Use of Auxiliary through Lanes at Signalized Intersections (TRB, 2011) [PDF]
- NCHRP Report 705 – Evaluation of Safety Strategies at Signalized Intersections (TRB, 2011) [PDF]
- NCHRP Web-Only Document 150 – Accessible Pedestrian Signals: A Guide to Best Practices (TRB, 2009) [PDF]
- NCHRP Web-Only Document 146 – Replacement Processes for Light Emitting Diode (LED) Traffic Signals (TRB, 2009) [PDF]
- NCHRP Web-Only Document 123 – Evaluation of the Flashing Yellow Arrow Permissive-Only Left-Turn Indication Field Implementation (TRB, 2007) [PDF]
- NCHRP Report 500 – Volume 12: A Guide for Reducing Collisions at Signalized Intersections (TRB, 2004) [PDF]
- NCHRP Report 493 – Evaluation of Traffic Signal Displays for Protected/Permissive Left-Turn Control (TRB, 2003) [PDF]
- NCHRP Report 491 – Crash Experience Warrant for Traffic Signals (2003) [PDF]
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States
- Evaluation of Flashing Yellow Arrow Traffic Signals in Indiana (Indiana, 2015) [PDF]
- Understanding Interactions between Drivers and Pedestrian Features at Signalized Intersections (Florida, 2015) [PDF]
- Driver Comprehension and Operations Evaluation of Flashing Yellow Arrows (Illinois, 2013) [PDF]
- Improved Pedestrian Safety at Signalized Intersections Operating the Flashing Yellow Arrow Final Report (Oregon, 2013) [PDF]
- Development of Guidelines for Pedestrian Safety Treatments at Signalized Intersections (Texas, 2012) [PDF]
- Traffic Signal Operations Handbook, 2nd Edition (Texas, 2011) [PDF]
- Guidelines for Signal Operations at Intersections with Wide Medians (Texas, 2010) [PDF]
- Placement of Detection Loops on High Speed Approaches to Traffic Signals (North Carolina, 2010) [PDF]
- Evaluation of Dilemma Zone Protection Practices for Signalized Intersection Control Final Report (Vermont, 2009) [PDF]
- Pedestrian Accessibility at Signalized Intersections (Texas, 2009) [PDF]
Study of School Zones with Traffic Signals Final Report (Florida, 2009) [PDF]
- Low-Cost Safety Measures at Signalized Intersections (Kentucky, 2008) [PDF]
- Urban Intersection Design Guide (Texas, 2005) [PDF]
- Guidelines for Using Decision Sight Distance at Signalized Intersections near Vertical Curves (Texas, 2004) [PDF]
- Triple Left-Turn Lanes at Signalized Intersections (Florida, 2002) [PDF]
National Partners
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