Safety Effectiveness of Stop-Sign Beacons : A Cross-Sectional Study

2018PDFTech ReportHighway beaconsStop signsIsolated intersectionsHighway safetyTraffic safetyUnsignalized intersectionsFlashing beaconsDriver errorsHuman factors in accidentsStop-Sign BeaconsIowaUnited StatesMidwest Transportation CenterHallmark, Shauna L.Goswamy, AmritaPawlovich, MichaelIowa State University. Institute for TransportationSouth Dakota State UniversityMidwest Transportation CenterUnited States. Dept. of Transportation. Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and TechnologyUnited States. Federal Highway AdministrationUS Transportation CollectionRural intersections account for 16% of fatalities in rural areas (IIHS 2016). Rural intersection crashes are frequently a result of drivers\u2019 failing to yield to the right of way. Failure to yield right-of-way (FTYROW) may be due to speeding, which can result in failure to react in time or may be due to failure to recognize the presence of the intersection or traffic control due to sight distance issues or driver inattention. Retting et al. (2003) investigated crashes at stop-controlled intersections in four cities. They found that stop sign violations accounted forabout 70% of crashes. Both older and younger drivers havebeen attributed responsibility in failureto yield crashes at intersections. Retting et al. (2003) reported that younger drivers (< 18) and older driver (65+) were more likely to be at fault at stop-controlled intersections. Massie et al. (1993) created a collision typology to assess crash types. The researchers investigated 50 crashes involving failure to yield and found older drivers were more likely to stop first and then pull out and collide with another vehicle, while younger drivers were more likely not to stop. Intersection characteristics such as sight distance, skew angle, presence of horizontal or vertical curvature, and presence of median or lighting have also been correlated to failure to yield and intersection crash risk (Donnell et al. 2002, Burchett and Maze 2006). Beacons are one countermeasure that have been utilized to reduce rural intersection crash risk. Beacons draw attention to the presence of the intersection and/or traffic control, encouraging improved driver response. The different types of beacons include intersection control beacons mounted over the intersection (also referred to as overhead flashing beacons), standard stop-sign-mounted beacons, and actuated flashing beacons (typically placed on the stop sign but actuated only when speed is over a certain threshold). The most common intersection beacon configuration is an overhead flashing beacon, which flashes red to drivers with stop-controlled approaches and yellow for major road approaches. Several studies have evaluated overhead flashing beacons, and, in general, they have been shown to reduce crashes. However, some concern has been expressed that drivers are confused by overhead flashing beacons and, in some cases, believe the overhead beacons indicate an all-way stop