Intersection Safety: How Transportation Agencies Can Tackle Road Safety Challenges Where They Happen Most

According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), more than 50% of all reported crashes and 20% of total fatalities occur at or near the intersection. Intersection crashes also account for roughly $490 million per year in economic and societal costs.

These statistics are staggering and are driving agencies across the country to focus their efforts on improving safety at intersections to make the most impact within their communities.

By design, intersections are complex systems whereby road users of different types, in different numbers, approaching from different directions and moving at different speeds, all have to share the same space. Also, when you take into account poor driver behaviors, such as distracted driving and disregarding traffic controls, the potential for conflicts seems almost inevitable.

While there is no single reason why intersection crashes occur, experts at the local, state and national levels all agree that developing systems and leveraging technology to improve intersection safety are high priorities.

Over the years, Iteris has had the privilege to work with thousands of agencies and traffic professionals in and out of the United States. While each region has its own challenges, we often hear of agencies facing the same safety-related problems.

In the first of our multi-part blog series on intersection safety, we will take a bird’s-eye view of some of the challenges transportation agencies are facing and discuss each key user group in more detail in future blogs.

More vehicles and driver behaviors are fanning the flame

In 2018, there were over 276 million registered motor vehicles in the United States. That is a lot of vehicles on roads that transportation agencies are challenged with moving safely. This is especially true at more traditional intersections, which were not designed to accommodate this volume.

Over the past year, however, roads have seen fewer vehicles due to Covid-19 but also an increase in speeds, which has led to an 18% rise in the rate of fatalities.

Another serious safety issue plaguing cities across the country is red-light running. Although traffic fatalities involving red-light running at signalized intersections have decreased by about 5%, there has been a 15% increase in pedestrian and bicycle fatalities involving red-light running. Tackling the problem requires a multi-pronged approach.

Whether it's speeding, red-light running, hard braking and acceleration or distracted driving, the human factor plays a critical role in road safety. In fact, 90% of crashes are due primarily to, or influenced by, driver behavior.

Vulnerable road users are more vulnerable than ever

To reduce congestion and promote healthier communities, cities actively encourage cycling and walking as alternatives to motor vehicle usage. Such policies make sense since they can, in the long run, lead to less traffic, cleaner air and healthier people.

However, this creates a challenge for agencies. With the increase in people walking and biking, and the emergence of new modes of transportation, such as scooters, hoverboards and e-bikes, cities are challenged more than ever to protect an even larger, more diverse group of vulnerable road users.

In fact, 2018 proved to be the deadliest year for pedestrians and cyclists since 1990, with 6,482 pedestrians and 859 cyclists killed in motor vehicle crashes.

Why is this happening? Many intersections have traditionally been – and in some cases are still being – designed to favor vehicles rather than accommodate all road users, including cyclists and pedestrians of all ages, and cognitive and physical abilities/disabilities.

However, cyclists and pedestrians also play a significant role as their behavior and ability to follow safety laws (e.g. avoid jaywalking) contribute to the overall intersection safety dilemma.

Technology and solutions are already available

While technology is not a cure-all solution, implementing the right policies along with state-of-the-art hardware and software enables agencies to take a data-driven approach to assessing, prioritizing and addressing safety risks at intersections.

Whether powering traveler information services to inform the public of the safest available routes, deploying near-miss identification systems to extend signal phases at key intersections or detecting and differentiating between vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians with detection sensors, Iteris' smart mobility solutions are designed and delivered with safety at the top of mind.

About the Author:

Mike Plata is senior marketing manager, Roadway Sensors at Iteris.

Connect with Mike on Twitter and LinkedIn.