Safety Evaluation of Destination Lighting at Stop-Controlled Cross Intersections [Brief]

2018PDFBriefSPR RB13-014Highway beaconsStop signsIsolated intersectionsHighway safetyTraffic safetyUnsignalized intersectionsFlashing beaconsDriver errorsHuman factors in crashesStreet lightingLighting columnsIowaUnited StatesMidwest Transportation CenterIowa State University. Center for Transportation Research and EducationHallmark, Shauna L.Goswamy, AmritaLitteral, TheresaPawlovich, MichaelIowa State University. Institute for TransportationSouth Dakota State UniversityMidwest Transportation CenterUnited States. Department of Transportation. Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and TechnologyUnited States. Federal Highway AdministrationUS Transportation CollectionUnlit or inadequately lit intersections reduce the ability of drivers to recognize upcoming intersections during nighttime hours. Drivers also face difficulty in properly negotiating the intersection because lack of adequate lighting increases the likelihood of not detecting conflicting vehicles or pedestrians. In general, the nighttime crash rate is about 1.6 times that of the daytime crash rate (Hasson and Lutkevich 2002, Opiela et al. 2003). Standards and best practices are available for full-scale lighting of intersections. However, addition of lighting structures and wiring can be a significant cost for rural agencies and may not be justified for lower traffic volumes. One solution commonly used in Iowa and other states is destination lighting. Destination lighting only guides drivers to the intersection and may not provide sufficient lighting to increase visibility (Carstens and Berns1984).The objective of this research was to examine the relationship between traffic, crash, and roadway data for stop-controlled cross intersections provided with destination lighting in Iowa.75