Effect of Human Reactions at Signalized Intersections on Intersection Efficiency and Safety

Abstract

An intersection is one of the most critical points in the traffic systems that contain numerous factors considered in the design process. Human factors in intersection designs are complex and their characteristics have a wide range of variability in terms of personality and psychology of road users. However, these human variabilities could be estimated and used as human factors on road designs and traffic operations. The locations of traffic signal at the intersections in influences driver’s visibility and reaction relevant to startup loss time on traffic signal timing. When unclear visibility exists, driver’s delayed reaction time will results in greater loss time and a sudden startup that might cause safety concern between pedestrian and vehicles. This study investigated the effect of driver’s reaction time at varying distance between stop line and signal location on intersection efficiency and safety for a near-side traffic signal and far-side traffic signal.