An-Najah Staff

Analytical evaluation techniques for the safety performance of signalized intersections are applicable to limited scenarios and conditions, whereas simulation-based analysis tools are very flexible and promising. This study is part of intensive efforts to develop a microscopic simulation model for the safety assessment of signalized intersections. One important aspect of analyzing driver maneuver is vehicle paths. Broadly varying paths may result in widely distributed potential conflict points with other movements, which may affect the occurrence probability of severe conflicts. Therefore, this study aims to develop a technique to reproduce the variations in the paths of turning vehicles, considering intersection geometry, vehicle type, and speed. Several signalized intersections in Nagoya City, Japan, with various traffic and geometric characteristics were videotaped. The analysis revealed that the paths of right-turning vehicles (left-hand traffic) are more sensitive to the vehicle speed and turning angle whereas those of left-turning vehicles are more sensitive to the intersection corner radius, turning angle, and vehicle speed. For modeling individual vehicle paths, this study applies the Euler-spiral-based approximation methodology where each trajectory is fitted by an entering Euler spiral curve followed by a circular curve and an exit Euler spiral curve. The proposed models are unique since they provide a realistic and rational representation of the variations in turning vehicles’ paths inside intersections.

Improving pedestrian safety at intersections remains a critical issue. Although several types of safety countermeasures, such as reforming intersection layouts, have been implemented, methods have not yet been established to quantitatively evaluate the effects of these countermeasures before installation. One of the main issues in pedestrian safety is conflicts with turning vehicles. This study aims to develop an integrated model to represent the variations in the maneuvers of left-turners (left-hand traffic) at signalized intersections that dynamically considers the vehicle reaction to intersection geometry and crossing pedestrians. The proposed method consists of four empirically developed stochastic sub-models, including a path model, free-flow speed profile model, lag/gap acceptance model, and stopping/clearing speed profile model. Since safety assessment is the main objective driving the development of the proposed model, this study uses post-encroachment time (PET) and vehicle speed at the crosswalk as validation parameters. Preliminary validation results obtained by Monte Carlo simulation show that the proposed integrated model can realistically represent the variations in vehicle maneuvers as well as the distribution of PET and vehicle speeds at the crosswalk.