New Dilemma Zone Mitigation Strategies
Abstract
Drivers' mistakes in making immediate decision facing yellow signal interval to stop or go
through the intersection is one of main factors contributing to intersection's safety. Incorrect
decision might lead to a red light running and a right -angle Collison when passing through the
intersection or a rear-end collision when failing to stop safely.Improperly timed traffic signal
intervals result in the inability of the drivers to make the right decision and can place them in the
dilemma zone. Advance warning systems (AWS) have been used to provide information about
the downstream traffic signal change prior to approaching the intersection. On the other hand,
advance warning systems increase drivers approach speed according to the literature. However,
effect of AWS on dilemma zone has not been studied before. The goal of this thesis is to
minimize the number of vehicles caught in dilemma zone by determining more precise
boundaries for dilemma zone and to reduce the number of red light violations by predicting the
red light runners before arriving to the intersection. Here, dilemma zone boundaries at the
presence of AWS has been reexamined with the aid of a large dataset (more than 1870 hours of
data for two different intersections). Upper dilemma zone boundaries found to be higher for the
intersections with AWS. This is due to vehicles' increasing the speed at the flashing yellow sings
to escape the dilemma zone.Moreover, an algorithm for predicting red light runners and
distinguishing them from right turners is presented.
Collections
- Masters Theses [19660]