01623069

Component

Channelized right-turn lanes (CRTLs) improve traffic flow efficiency, enabling right-turning drivers to bypass traffic lights at signalised intersections (for right-hand drive countries). Many CRTLs provide crossing facilities for pedestrians and cyclists. Previous studies examining the safety performance of CRTLs indicate that they increase overall safety levels but hint that safety issues regarding vulnerable road users exist. This study investigated these issues through site-based observations of yielding behaviour and evaluated the effect of the priority rule on cyclists’ safety in two CRTL designs. Four locations in Belgium were selected for video observations: two where the priority rule favoured cyclists and two where motorists had priority. With regard to yielding, four types of crossing behaviour were identified and defined. Independent of the priority rule, cyclists crossed the conflict zone first in most interactions without taking the initiative tocross first. Underlying reasons for motorists willingly giving away their right-of-way could not be determined, but possible courtesy or fear of inflicting injuries at vulnerable road user types might be at hand. A safety evaluation was performed using two traffic conflict indicators (TTC<sub>min<sub>and the TA value). High correlations between the two indicators were found (rd²> 0.83), but no conclusions about the safest priority rule for cyclists could be drawn. The results hinted, however, that locations with motorist priority and crossings from right to left (from the driver’s point of view) yielded the highest number of safety critical events.

This paper was sponsored by TRB committee ANF20 Standing Committee on Bicycle Transportation.

01618707

17-01851

English

15p

2017

Transportation Research Board 96th Annual Meeting

Digital/other

Figures; Photos; References

Cyclists; Right turn lanes; Traffic channelization; Traffic conflicts; Traffic safety; Yielding

Priority

Belgium

Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Safety and Human Factors

Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting 2017 Paper #17-01851

TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Dec 8 2016 10:38AM