Safety Evaluation of Turning Maneuvers at California Intersections

Details

• Creators:
  Appleyard, Bruce S. ; Pande, Anurag ; Gibbons, Joseph ; Tanvir, Shams ; Honey, Megan ; Ahangarfabrik, Nell ; Carbajal, Mario
• Corporate Creators:
  Center for Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety (CPBS) Tier-1 University Transportation Center (UTC) ; San Diego State University ; California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
• Corporate Contributors:
  United States. Department of Transportation. University Transportation Centers (UTC) Program ; United States. Department of Transportation. Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  Crash Injuries Fatalities Pedestrian Safety Right Turn Lanes Transportation Safety Turning Lanes
• Publication/ Report Number:
  23SDSU03
• DOI:
  https://doi.org/10.21949/r1jj-9t54
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  United States;California
• Edition:
  Final Report (March 2024 – July 2024)
• Corporate Publisher:
  Center for Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety (CPBS) Tier-1 University Transportation Center (UTC)
• Abstract:
  We reviewed RTOR collisions throughout the state and found that right-turn collisions at intersections were responsible for over 39,000 collisions and 217 fatalities involving pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers between 2011-2022. Over half of these collisions involved a pedestrian or cyclist. Our findings are that RTOR movements are generally unsafe for pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers, seriously degrade street livability for vulnerable road users, while only marginally useful in lowering emissions, and under only certain contexts. We also find that RTOR collisions inequitably burden low socioeconomic status neighborhoods. Those marginal benefits may decline with increased electric vehicle (EV) adoption. We broadly recommend that state policy make it easier for California communities to prohibit RTOR movements. We recognize, however, that banning or permitting RTOR movements should consider the specific contexts of the communities (their place types), which could unduly burden cities that want to permit or prohibit RTOR at a vast number of their intersections in terms of signage.
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  69A3552348336
• Collection(s):
  University Transportation Centers
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:9e1a97baccfe4e7154bc42a6f6cae9450c7c6671918af2b47d66b6a1e2e3a507e8a421908dcdc205b1048db75615062b315a8a658f8946a63b9e0bae1b32d3e6
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/86310/dot_86310_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 982.35 KB ]