Signalized intersections, while designed to regulate the flow of vehicular and pedestrian traffic, can become sites of significant safety concerns when they experience a high rate of traffic crashes. One critical aspect of this safety challenge is the occurrence of vehicle-pedestrian conflicts, which can result in crashes, injuries, and fatalities. Understanding the dynamics of vehicle-pedestrian conflicts at such intersections is essential for developing effective safety measures and reducing the incidence of crashes. Vehicle-pedestrian conflicts refer to situations where vehicles and pedestrians interact within the same space, and the potential for collisions exists. These conflicts can occur at various points within a signalized intersection, including crosswalks, turning lanes, and pedestrian islands. Key factors contributing to vehicle-pedestrian conflicts include:
In signalized intersections with a high rate of traffic crashes, several contributing factors can lead to vehicle-pedestrian conflicts:
Jaywalking Conflicts
Jaywalking conflicts at signalized intersections with a high rate of traffic crashes pose significant risks to pedestrian and driver safety [
5]. This issue arises when pedestrian’s cross streets at locations other than designated crosswalks or against traffic signals, leading to potentially dangerous conflicts with vehicles. This comprehensive explanation will delve into the various facets of this problem, its contributing factors, consequences, and potential mitigation strategies. Addressing this issue requires a multi-faceted approach that combines education, infrastructure improvements, signal optimization, enforcement, and urban planning. By addressing the contributing factors and consequences of jaywalking conflicts, cities can work towards safer and more efficient traffic management at these critical intersections.
Factors Contributing to Jaywalking Conflicts:
- 1)
Pedestrian Behavior: Jaywalking often occurs due to pedestrians' disregard for traffic signals, impatience, or a desire for more direct routes. Some may underestimate the risks associated with crossing outside of crosswalks.
- 2)
Signal Timing: Inadequate signal timing, such as long pedestrian wait times or short crossing times, can lead pedestrians to ignore traffic signals and cross against the light.
- 3)
Infrastructure: Lack of clearly marked crosswalks, poorly designed pedestrian facilities, and insufficient signage can encourage jaywalking behavior.
- 4)
Safety Perception: Pedestrians may perceive certain intersections as unsafe due to high traffic crash rates or inadequate lighting, leading them to cross outside designated areas.
Consequences of Jaywalking Conflicts:
- 1)
Increased Crash Risk: Jaywalking pedestrians are at a higher risk of being struck by vehicles, leading to injuries or fatalities.
- 2)
Traffic Disruptions: Vehicles may be forced to brake suddenly or swerve to avoid jaywalkers, leading to traffic disruptions and potential rear-end collisions.
- 3)
Legal Implications: Both pedestrians and drivers involved in jaywalking conflicts may face legal consequences, including fines, penalties, or liability in civil cases.
Mitigation Strategies:
- 1)
Education and Awareness: Public awareness campaigns can inform pedestrians about the risks of jaywalking and promote adherence to traffic signals and crosswalks.
- 2)
Improved Infrastructure: Designing pedestrian-friendly infrastructure with well-marked crosswalks, countdown timers, and proper lighting can discourage jaywalking.
- 3)
Signal Timing Adjustments: Signal timings should be optimized to minimize pedestrian wait times and ensure adequate crossing opportunities.
- 4)
Enforcement: Law enforcement efforts, including issuing citations for jaywalking, can act as a deterrent and promote compliance with traffic rules.
- 5)
Technological Solutions: Implementing pedestrian detection systems or pedestrian-activated signals can enhance pedestrian safety at high-risk intersections.
- 6)
Urban Planning: Consideration of pedestrian safety in urban planning, including the placement of crosswalks and traffic calming measures, can reduce jaywalking conflicts.
From June 1
st to July 7
th, 1000 jaywalking events were recorded by tow LiDAR sensors at Marlboro Pike & Brooks Dr. intersection in Coral Hills, Maryland.
Figure 21 illustrates jaywalking frequency and trajectories,
Figure 22 shows hourly distribution of jaywalking event’s frequency, and
Figure 23 demonstrates jaywalking events frequency based on the jaywalking duration.
As can be seen in
Figure 23, 86% of jaywalking events were recorded in less than 10 seconds duration. The duration of jaywalking, or the time interval during which pedestrians engage in the illegal act of crossing streets outside designated crosswalks or against traffic signals, is a critical factor at signalized intersections with a high rate of traffic crashes. Understanding the duration of jaywalking is essential for traffic engineers, urban planners, and law enforcement agencies as it impacts safety, traffic flow, and the overall efficiency of intersections. By addressing the factors that influence jaywalking duration and implementing mitigation strategies, cities can work towards safer and more efficient traffic management, reducing the risks associated with illegal pedestrian behavior at these critical intersections.
Factors Influencing the Duration of Jaywalking:
- 1)
Pedestrian Behavior: The duration of jaywalking is influenced by how long pedestrians wait for a perceived safe gap in traffic before crossing against the signal.
- 2)
Traffic Signal Timing: Signal cycle lengths, including pedestrian walk intervals, impact how long pedestrians have to wait at the intersection. Longer wait times may encourage jaywalking.
- 3)
Intersection Geometry: The layout of the intersection, such as its width, the number of lanes, and the presence of medians, can affect the perceived difficulty of crossing at designated crosswalks.
Implications of Jaywalking Duration:
- 1)
Safety Risks: Longer jaywalking durations increase the exposure of pedestrians to moving vehicles, elevating the risk of crashes, injuries, and fatalities.
- 2)
Traffic Disruptions: Prolonged jaywalking events can disrupt the flow of vehicular traffic, leading to congestion, delays, and a higher likelihood of rear-end collisions.
- 3)
Legal and Enforcement Challenges: Extended jaywalking incidents may require more significant law enforcement efforts and present challenges in terms of identifying and penalizing violators.
- 4)
Public Perceptions: Public perception of safety at intersections can be negatively influenced by lengthy jaywalking incidents, impacting trust in traffic management.
Mitigation Strategies:
- 1)
Signal Timing Optimization: Traffic engineers can adjust signal timings to minimize pedestrian wait times, reducing the incentive for jaywalking.
- 2)
Crosswalk Enhancement: Well-marked crosswalks, pedestrian countdown timers, and audible signals can encourage pedestrians to use designated crossing points.
- 3)
Pedestrian Education: Public awareness campaigns can educate pedestrians about the benefits of using crosswalks and adhering to traffic signals.
- 4)
Enforcement: Law enforcement agencies can target areas with frequent jaywalking incidents, issuing citations to deter violations.
- 5)
Physical Barriers: Installing physical barriers or bollards can prevent pedestrians from jaywalking at dangerous locations.
- 6)
Technological Solutions: Advanced pedestrian detection systems (visual or audible signs) can trigger pedestrian signals or traffic signal changes based on real-time pedestrian activity, improving safety.
Yellow and Red Light Runner Analysis
Yellow and red light runners at signalized intersections with a high rate of traffic crashes pose significant risks to road safety and traffic management. Addressing this issue requires a multi-pronged approach that encompasses signal timing adjustments, enforcement measures, public education, and infrastructure improvements [
15,
16,
17,
18,
19,
20,
21]. By tackling the contributing factors and consequences of light running, cities can work toward safer and more efficient traffic management at these critical intersections, ultimately saving lives and reducing crashes. Running a yellow or red traffic signal can have severe consequences, including collisions, injuries, and fatalities. In traffic safety analysis, a "red light runner" refers to a motorist who enters an intersection after the traffic signal has turned red. In other words, they disregard the red light and continue through the intersection, often in violation of traffic laws. This behavior is highly dangerous as it can lead to collisions with vehicles crossing from other directions that have the right of way [
22,
23,
24,
25]. To address this issue, many intersections are equipped with red light cameras, which automatically capture images or video footage of vehicles that run red lights. Additionally, law enforcement can then use this evidence to issue citations to the drivers who violated traffic laws. Additionally, public awareness campaigns, educational efforts, and stricter enforcement are often used to discourage red light running and promote safer driving behavior.
Factors Contributing to Yellow and Red Light Running:
- 1)
Driver Behavior: Human factors play a significant role in light running incidents. This includes aggressive driving, impatience, inattentiveness, and a disregard for traffic laws.
- 2)
Signal Timing: Inadequate signal timing, such as short yellow signal durations or a lack of proper transition times between green and red phases, can catch drivers off guard and encourage light running.
- 3)
Traffic Volume: High traffic volume can lead to congestion and increased driver frustration, potentially prompting some drivers to run lights to save time.
- 4)
Impaired Driving: Drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs may have impaired judgment and reaction times, increasing the likelihood of running lights.
Consequences of Yellow and Red Light Running:
- 1)
Collisions: Running a red or yellow light often leads to intersection collisions, which can result in property damage, injuries, or fatalities.
- 2)
Safety Risks: Pedestrians and cyclists are vulnerable road users who may be struck by light runners, leading to serious injuries or fatalities.
- 3)
Traffic Disruptions: Light running incidents can disrupt traffic flow, causing congestion and increasing the risk of secondary crashes.
- 4)
Legal and Insurance Consequences: Drivers who run lights may face legal penalties, including fines, license suspension, and increased insurance premiums.
Mitigation Strategies:
- 1)
Signal Timing Adjustments: Traffic engineers can optimize signal timing to provide adequate warning time, including lengthening yellow signal intervals to give drivers more time to stop safely.
- 2)
Red-Light Cameras: Installing red-light cameras at intersections can deter light runners by capturing photographic evidence of violations and issuing citations.
- 3)
Public Awareness Campaigns: Educational campaigns can inform drivers about the dangers of light running and encourage compliance with traffic signals.
- 4)
Improved Intersection Design: Intersection design enhancements, such as clearer signage, countdown timers, and dedicated left-turn signals, can reduce the likelihood of light running.
- 5)
Enforcement: Law enforcement agencies can actively patrol intersections prone to light running and issue citations to violators.
- 6)
Technological Solutions: Advanced vehicle detection systems can trigger traffic signal changes based on real-time traffic conditions, reducing the likelihood of light running incidents.
In different phases of the traffic signal, the frequency of yellow and red light runners were analyzed.
Phase 2 (ø2): 3480 red light runners were recorded for North Bound Straight Thru (NBT or SN), and 2531 events were recorded for North Bound Left Turn (NBL or SW).
Figure 24.
Red Light Runners in Phase #2 of the traffic signal.
Figure 24.
Red Light Runners in Phase #2 of the traffic signal.
Phase 3 (ø3): 327 red light runners were recorded for East Bound Straight Thru (EBT or WE), and 3755 events were recorded for East Bound Left Turn (EBL or WN).
Figure 25.
Red Light Runners in Phase #3 of the traffic signal.
Figure 25.
Red Light Runners in Phase #3 of the traffic signal.
Phase 4 (ø4): 395 red light runners were recorded for West Bound Straight Thru (WBT or EW), and 528 events were recorded for West Bound Left Turn (WBL or ES).
Figure 26.
Red Light Runners in Phase #4 of the traffic signal.
Figure 26.
Red Light Runners in Phase #4 of the traffic signal.
Phase 5 (ø5): Only one red light runners were recorded for North Bound Straight Thru (NBT or SN), and one events were recorded for North Bound Left Turn (NBL or SW).
Figure 27.
Red Light Runners in Phase #5 of the traffic signal.
Figure 27.
Red Light Runners in Phase #5 of the traffic signal.
Phase 6 (ø6): 3119 red light runners were recorded for South Bound Straight Thru (SBT or NS), and 204 events were recorded for South Bound Left Turn (SBL or NE).
Figure 28.
Red Light Runners in Phase #6 of the traffic signal.
Figure 28.
Red Light Runners in Phase #6 of the traffic signal.
Historical Crash Data Analysis
Analyzing historical crash data is a critical aspect of road safety management and transportation planning [
26,
27,
28,
29,
30,
31]. This process involves collecting, processing, and interpreting data related to traffic crashes that have occurred over time. By examining historical crash data, transportation authorities, researchers, and policymakers can identify trends, patterns, and risk factors that contribute to crashes. In this discussion, we will explore the importance of historical crash data analysis, the steps involved, and its practical applications.
Importance of Historical Crash Data Analysis [
32]
:
Safety Improvement: Historical crash data analysis helps identify high-risk locations, such as intersections or stretches of road with a high frequency of crashes. This information is essential for implementing safety measures, such as traffic signals, roundabouts, or road redesigns, to reduce the likelihood of future crashes.
Resource Allocation: It allows for the allocation of resources, such as law enforcement personnel and emergency response teams, to areas with a history of frequent crashes. This proactive approach can save lives and reduce property damage.
Policy Development: Policymakers can use historical crash data to create evidence-based policies and regulations that address specific safety concerns. For example, data might lead to the implementation of stricter seatbelt laws or alcohol-impaired driving prevention measures.
Transportation Planning: Planners can use crash data to inform decisions about road design, maintenance, and expansion. Understanding where and why crashes occur can help in creating safer transportation systems.
Steps in Historical Crash Data Analysis:
Data Collection: Gather comprehensive data on each crash, including location, time, weather conditions, vehicle types, road conditions, and severity of injuries. This data is often collected by law enforcement agencies and compiled into a centralized database.
Data Cleaning: The collected data may contain errors or inconsistencies, so it needs to be cleaned and standardized. This involves removing duplicates, correcting inaccuracies, and ensuring consistency in data format.
Data Integration: Combine crash data with other relevant datasets, such as road infrastructure data, traffic flow data, and demographic information, to provide a more comprehensive picture of crash causes and effects.
Descriptive Analysis: Perform initial descriptive analyses to identify trends, such as the most common types of crashes, contributing factors (e.g., speeding, distracted driving), and locations with a high accident rate.
Spatial Analysis: Utilize Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to map crash locations and identify hotspots where accidents cluster. This helps in pinpointing areas in need of safety improvements.
Temporal Analysis: Analyze crash data over time to identify seasonal, monthly, or daily patterns, which can inform the allocation of resources and the implementation of targeted safety campaigns.
Statistical Modeling: Employ statistical techniques to develop predictive models that can estimate the likelihood of crashes based on various factors. These models can assist in risk assessment and prioritization of safety measures.
Practical Applications:
Traffic Engineering: Engineers can use crash data analysis to optimize traffic signal timings, design safer road layouts, and implement traffic calming measures.
Law Enforcement: Police departments can focus their enforcement efforts on locations and times with a high likelihood of accidents, improving traffic safety.
Insurance Industry: Insurance companies use historical crash data to assess risk and set premium rates for policyholders.
Research and Education: Researchers can use crash data to study the effectiveness of safety interventions and develop educational materials for drivers.
Emergency Response: Emergency services can plan their response strategies based on accident data, ensuring faster and more efficient assistance to accident victims.
By using “The Maryland Open Crash Dataset” [
33], a total of 20 crashes were reported at the intersection of Marlboro Pike and Brooks Dr. These crashes were recorded by various agencies that submitted their respective crash reports. Fatal, Injury, and Property damage crashes are described.
Fatal Crashes: Out of a total of 571 fatal crashes, 2 crashes occurred in close proximity to the intersection of Marlboro Pike and Brooks Dr.
Figure 29 shows the location of fatal crashes.
Injury Crashes: Out of a total of 21,598 injury crashes, 17 crashes occurred in close proximity to the intersection of Marlboro Pike and Brooks Dr. As shown in
Figure 30, the movements SN, EN, WS, SW, and NS are critical movements.
Figure 30 illustrates the location of injury crashes.
Property Damage Crashes: Out of a total of 77,638 property damage crashes, 1 crash occurred in close proximity to the intersection of Marlboro Pike and Brooks Dr.
Figure 31 illustrates a property damage crash occurred by movements SN or SW.
To determine the safety risk for each intersection, an intersection crash rate, as shown in
Eq. (1) was developed to describe the crashes per million entering vehicles to the intersection.
Where,
R = Crash rate for the intersection expressed as crashes per million entering vehicles
C = Total number of intersection crashes in the study period
N = Number of years of data
V = Traffic volumes entering the intersection daily
In this study,
C = 20 total crashes over the past 5 years
N = 5 years of data
V = 26,956 entering vehicles per day
= 0.406 crashes per million entering vehicles