Safety evaluation of flashing beacons at stop-controlled intersections
R Srinivasan, D Carter, B Persaud… - Transportation …, 2008 - journals.sagepub.com
R Srinivasan, D Carter, B Persaud, K Eccles, C Lyon
Transportation Research Record, 2008•journals.sagepub.comFHWA organized a pooled fund study of 26 states to evaluate low-cost safety strategies as
part of its strategic highway safety effort. One of the strategies chosen to be evaluated was
the installation of flashing beacons at stop-controlled intersections. The intent of flashing
beacons is to reduce the frequency of crashes related to driver unaware-ness of stop control.
Geometric, traffic, and crash data were obtained at stop-controlled intersections for 64 sites
in North Carolina and 42 sites in South Carolina. Empirical Bayes methods were …
part of its strategic highway safety effort. One of the strategies chosen to be evaluated was
the installation of flashing beacons at stop-controlled intersections. The intent of flashing
beacons is to reduce the frequency of crashes related to driver unaware-ness of stop control.
Geometric, traffic, and crash data were obtained at stop-controlled intersections for 64 sites
in North Carolina and 42 sites in South Carolina. Empirical Bayes methods were …
FHWA organized a pooled fund study of 26 states to evaluate low-cost safety strategies as part of its strategic highway safety effort. One of the strategies chosen to be evaluated was the installation of flashing beacons at stop-controlled intersections. The intent of flashing beacons is to reduce the frequency of crashes related to driver unaware-ness of stop control. Geometric, traffic, and crash data were obtained at stop-controlled intersections for 64 sites in North Carolina and 42 sites in South Carolina. Empirical Bayes methods were incorporated in a before–after analysis to determine the safety effectiveness of installing flashing beacons while accounting for potential selection bias and regression-to-the-mean effects. Overall, installation of flashing beacons in North Carolina resulted in statistically significant reductions in total, angle, and injury-plus-fatal crashes. The intersections in South Carolina experienced little change following the introduction of flashing beacons, but the combined results from both states still indicated a statistically significant reduction in angle and injury-plus-fatal crashes. An economic analysis indicated that standard flashing beacons can achieve a 2:1 benefit–cost ratio.