The first part of this two-part series discussed a variety of measures state and local governments can use to prevent traffic fatalities as well as pedestrian fatalities. Over 42,000 people died in car accidents in 2020, an increase from 2019, according to the National Safety Council. That figure increased again in 2021, despite many people still working from home because of the pandemic.
With the continued increase in traffic-related deaths, state, local, and federal governments are looking for ways to curb these increases. Recently, the Secretary of Transportation addressed this issue at a national conference where he announced ambitious goals: zero deaths on America’s roads as a result of traffic accidents.
Below are additional, proven measures that can be used to save lives.
Roundabouts
The modern roundabout is a type of circular intersection configuration that safety and efficiently moves traffic through an intersection. Roundabouts feature channelized approaches and a center island that results in lower speed and fewer conflict points. At roundabouts, entering traffic yields to vehicles already circulating leading to improved operational performance. The change from a two-way stop-controlled intersection to a roundabout has an 82% reduction in severe crashes. Changing a signalized intersection to a roundabout has been seen to have a 78% reduction in severe crashes.
Stop Controlled Intersection
A systematic application of multiple low-cost countermeasures at stop-controlled intersections could have a reduction of 10% to 15% in injury and fatal crashes. Things such as doubling up on over-sized advance intersection warning signs with street name sign plaques, enhanced pavement markings that delineate through edge lines, oversized advanced “stop ahead” signs, oversized stop signs, retroreflective sheeting on sign posts, properly placed stop bars, removal of vegetation, parking, or obstruction that limits sight distance, and double arrow warning signs at the stem of “T” intersections are all elements that can help reduce injuries and fatal crashes. Additionally, the cost benefit average is a 12:1 ratio.
Signal Changes
At a signalized intersection, the yellow change interval is the length of time that yellow signal indication is displayed following a green signal indication. The safety benefits indicate that you could have up to a 50% reduction in red light running and, therefore, up to a 14% reduction in total crashes.
Pedestrian Islands
Pedestrian crashes account for approximately 15% of all traffic fatalities annually and over 75% of these occur at non-intersection locations. Providing a median and pedestrian crossing islands in urban and suburban areas have the safety benefit of up to a 46% reduction in pedestrian crashes.
Pedestrian hybrid beacons have the safety benefit of up to 55% reduction in pedestrian crashes, up to a 29% reduction in total crashes, and up to a 15% reduction in serious injury and fatal crashes. The pedestrian hybrid beacon is a traffic control device designed to help pedestrians safely cross busy or higher speed roadways at mid-block crossing and uncontrolled intersections.
Road Diets
A road diet typically involves converting an existing four-lane divided roadway to a three-lane roadway consisting of two thru lanes and a center two-way left turn lane. An overall crash reduction of up to 47% has been achieved along with a reduction of rear-end and left turn crashes with dedicated left turn lanes. A road diet can be a low-cost safety solution when planned in conjunction with a simple pavement overlay and the reconfiguration can be accomplished at no additional cost.
Well-designed pedestrian walkways, shared use paths, and sidewalks, improve the safety of pedestrians. Sidewalks provide an 89% reduction in pedestrian crashes while paved shoulders provide up to 71% reduction in crashes involving pedestrians walking along the roadway. Transportation agencies should work towards incorporating pedestrian facilities into all roadway projects unless exceptional circumstances exist.
Local roads experience three times the fatality rate of the interstate highway system. A local road safety plan (LRSP) provides a framework for identifying, analyzing, and prioritizing roadway safety improvements on local roads. Aspects common to local LRSPs include stakeholder engagement and collaboration, identification of target crash types and crash risk, and implementation and evaluation timelines and goals.
Road Safety Audits
Road safety audits (RSA) can be performed in any phase of project development from planning through construction. RSAs can also be conducted on any size project from minor intersection and roadway retrofits to large-scale construction projects. The safety benefit could be up to 60% reduction in total crashes.
The above description of countermeasures can help change the dynamic of road safety, crashes, and resulting fatalities and injuries. It would be in every jurisdiction’s best interest to carefully and systematically examine the need to implement these countermeasures, whether it is in a privately owned residential community, a city or county street system, or a government-owned campus for military or hospital related purposes.