Design and evaluation of a rural intersection conflict warning system and alternative designs among various driver age groups

Disi Tian, Susan G Gerberich, Nichole L Morris, Hyun Kim, Andrew Ryan, Darin J. Erickson, Peter A. Easterlund

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Advanced Rural Intersection Conflict Warning Systems (RICWS) were deployed as countermeasures to reduce severe right-angle crashes at rural thru-STOP controlled intersections across the United States (U.S.). The simulator study designed and evaluated alternative RICWS designs to existing RICWS interventions, in varying rural driving scenarios, across age groups (N = 40 novice teenage, 40 middle-aged, and 40 older drivers). Each participant was randomly assigned to a RICWS design, either the original or an alternative, and drove through sequences of 17 thru-STOP controlled rural intersections (nine RICWS intervention and eight control intersections). Drivers’ gap acceptance performance, intersection driving performance, traffic violation behaviors and self-reported workload were evaluated between intervention and control intersections. Regression models, applying the Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE), enabled efficacy determination of each RICWS design and an aggregated RICWS intervention effect, averaged across all simulated RICWS designs, among different levels of moderating factors. The safety performance and possible risks associated with the use of different RICWS designs were identified. Specifically, the original RICWS design had a significantly greater risk of STOP-sign violations at clear-view intersections with low traffic volumes, compared with control intersections (Risk Ratio = 2.18, 95% CI = 1.03 to 4.64). Except for Alternative RICWS Design 1, the alternative RICWS designs did not appear to outperform the Original RICWS Design. The moderating effects of drivers’ ages and intersection types on aggregated RICWS intervention effects were also examined. This study provides important safety implications for development and evaluation of intelligent intersection warning systems, targeted to vulnerable driver populations at high-risk rural intersections.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number106388
JournalAccident Analysis and Prevention
Volume162
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This effort is based upon work funded by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) (Contract Number 99008, Work Order Number 225). The authors thank the MnDOT Technical Advisory Panel members who served on this project for their valuable input and feedback on the sign designs. The research was also supported, in part, by the Midwest Center for Occupational Health and Safety, Education and Research Center (T42OH008434) Pilot Project Research Fund through: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Additional support of equipment, staff and other resources were provided through the HumanFIRST laboratory at the University of Minnesota. The contents of this effort are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official view of MnDOT, the HumanFIRST Laboratory, NIOSH, CDC, DHHS, or associated entities.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Elsevier Ltd

Keywords

  • Intelligent traffic intervention system
  • Intersection gap acceptance
  • Novice teenage drivers
  • Older drivers
  • Rural thru-STOP controlled intersections

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