Analysis of Pedestrian Conflicts with Left-Turning Traffic

Abstract

The interaction between pedestrians and left-turning vehicles at signalized intersections are examined using the traffic conflict technique. Paramount was a comparison of the safety of left turns at two types intersections: T-intersections and X-intersections (cross-intersections). Previous research has indicated that T-intersections are more dangerous to pedestrians. In preparation for the comparison several traffic conflict definitions and their applications to pedestrians were evaluated. Use of a laptop computer for data collection was tested. Eight sites taken from intersections in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, were selected. A conflict recording methodology was developed for T-intersections and X-intersections that consisted of recording data at various times along the paths of pedestrians and left-turning vehicles, and recording traffic conflicts. Two computer programs were written for the data collection process: one for vehicles and one for pedestrians. Several statistical tests to relate traffic conflicts and the expected number of accidents were performed. These tests indicate that a positive correlation between traffic conflicts and expected number of accidents exists; they also suggest that T-intersections have a higher traffic conflict rate than X-intersections.