Buitrago-González, Fabiola E.

Profile Picture

Filters

20111
Reset filters

Settings

Citations

Publication Search Results

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    Publication
    Red light running and driver behavior at signalized intersections in western Puerto Rico
    (2011) Buitrago-González, Fabiola E.; Figueroa-Medina, Alberto M.; College of Engineering; Valdés Díaz, Didier; González Quevedo, Sergio; Bartolomei Suárez, Sonia; Department of Civil Engineering; Vázquez Urbano, Pedro
    Red Light Running (RLR) is a potentially severe safety issue at signalized intersections. To determine the driver reaction at the end of the green period at signalized intersections, a RLR study was performed using 32 approaches at nine signalized intersections located in the western region of Puerto Rico. The results indicate that, on average, a driver runs a red signal every 4 minutes. RLR events increased as the traffic flow rate or the ratio of traffic flow rate per cycle length increased at the intersection approaches. The study revealed the presence of aggressive RLR behavior at the observed intersections with an average violation rate of 12.8 RLR per hour and 18.8 RLR per 1,000 vehicles. Driver behavior at the onset of the yellow signal was analyzed at one signalized intersection in Mayagüez using video data collected with three digital cameras. For passing vehicles at the intersection, the results of the yellow and red entry time of 3.00 and 2.46 seconds, respectively, show a high degree of driver aggressiveness at the intersection. Regression analysis indicated that the significant explanatory variables for the yellow entry time and the probability of the STOP/GO decision are the vehicle distance and speed at the moment of the yellow onset. A novel technique to determine the dilemma zone (DZ) parameters using field observations at an intersection was developed in this study. The calibrated parameters were compared against the DZ theoretical model demonstrating consistency with the values observed in the field and also with the values recommended for the design of a signal timing plan. The proposed technique can be extended to other intersections with similar characteristics using the parameters suggested in this study, also can be used for other types of intersections to find the calibrated parameters. A practical manner to avoid involuntary RLR, through the elimination of DZ, is proposed by marking the pavement with a transverse line corresponding to the value of maximum passing distance (X0) for the vehicle speed limit for that segment as calculated from field observations and the model. This marking will assist drivers to stop at the intersection if they approach this line during yellow onset. The Driver Aggressiveness Index (DAI) is proposed as an indirect way to measure the aggressiveness of drivers at a signalized intersection.