Drivers Failing to Yield at Multi-Lane Roundabout Exits

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General Information
Study Number: TPF-5(382)
Former Study Number:
Lead Organization: Federal Highway Administration
Solicitation Number: 1451
Partners: City of Hilliard, Ohio, CT, FL, GADOT, NY, WA, WI
Status: Contract signed
Est. Completion Date:
Contract/Other Number:
Last Updated: Oct 04, 2018
Contract End Date:
Financial Summary
Contract Amount:
Suggested Contribution:
Total Commitments Received: $310,000.00
100% SP&R Approval: Approved
Contact Information
Lead Study Contact(s): Wei Zhang
wei.zhang@dot.gov
Phone: 202-493-3317
FHWA Technical Liaison(s): Wei Zhang
wei.zhang@dot.gov
Phone: 202-493-3317
Study Champion(s): Wei Zhang
wei.zhang@dot.gov
Phone: 202-493-3317
Organization Year Commitments Technical Contact Name Funding Contact Name
City of Hilliard, Ohio 2019 $10,000.00 Letty Schamp Letty Schamp
Connecticut Department of Transportation 2018 $10,000.00 Kevin McKernan Melanie Zimyeski
Connecticut Department of Transportation 2019 $10,000.00 Kevin McKernan Melanie Zimyeski
Connecticut Department of Transportation 2020 $10,000.00 Kevin McKernan Melanie Zimyeski
Connecticut Department of Transportation 2021 $10,000.00 Kevin McKernan Melanie Zimyeski
Connecticut Department of Transportation 2022 $10,000.00 Kevin McKernan Melanie Zimyeski
Florida Department of Transportation 2018 $10,000.00 James McGinnis Jennifer Clark
Florida Department of Transportation 2019 $10,000.00 James McGinnis Jennifer Clark
Florida Department of Transportation 2020 $10,000.00 James McGinnis Jennifer Clark
Florida Department of Transportation 2021 $10,000.00 James McGinnis Jennifer Clark
Florida Department of Transportation 2022 $10,000.00 James McGinnis Jennifer Clark
Georgia Department of Transportation 2018 $10,000.00 Christopher Raymond Supriya Kamatkar
Georgia Department of Transportation 2019 $10,000.00 Christopher Raymond Supriya Kamatkar
Georgia Department of Transportation 2020 $10,000.00 Christopher Raymond Supriya Kamatkar
Georgia Department of Transportation 2021 $10,000.00 Christopher Raymond Supriya Kamatkar
Georgia Department of Transportation 2022 $10,000.00 Christopher Raymond Supriya Kamatkar
New York State Department of Transportation 2019 $50,000.00 Howard McCulloch Wes Yang
Washington State Department of Transportation 2020 $30,000.00 Brian Walsh Douglas Brodin
Washington State Department of Transportation 2021 $20,000.00 Brian Walsh Douglas Brodin
Wisconsin Department of Transportation 2018 $0.00 Rebecca Szymkowski Evelyn Bromberg
Wisconsin Department of Transportation 2019 $50,000.00 Rebecca Szymkowski Evelyn Bromberg

Study Description

Over 3,300 modern roundabouts have been constructed in the U.S. since the 1990s, and most of them have exhibited good to excellent operational and safety performances. However, an issue is slowly but steadily emerging with some multi-lane roundabouts that are experiencing much higher than expected crash rates. The type of crash to be investigated is associated with drivers failing to yield properly at exit – vehicles entering the roundabout from the outside lane collide with vehicles exiting the roundabout from the inside lane. Multiple factors may have contributed to the rise in crashes, such as driver mis-judgement of the available gaps, and lack of positive guidance by lane marking in the circulating lane, etc. Urgent action is needed to determine the root cause of such crashes so that proper solutions can be developed to mitigate the problem before it becomes a widespread issue that may jeopardize the implementation of roundabouts around the country.

Objectives

Investigate the factors contributing to crashes from Exit-Circulating path conflicts at multi-lane roundabout exits, and develop counter measures to cure this problem.

Scope of Work

This study is limited to 2-lane roundabouts, and consists of crash study, site specific design review, speed study, traffic study, traffic conflict study, and developing counter-measures. Identify five or more multi-lane roundabouts that are experiencing Exit-Circulating path conflict crashes, and similar number of multi-lane roundabouts that have comparable traffic demands but are performing well in terms of traffic operation and safety. Study the crash patterns of each roundabout, and the geometric design, signing and pavement marking (on the approach and inside the roundabout), summarize their similarities and differences, and develop hypothesis of the leading causes of the crashes. Perform on-site study to determine if vehicle speeds at critical locations conform to design intent, and use suitable technology to record field traffic data than enables determination of lane-based origin-destination pattern at each multi-lane roundabout intersection and computer assisted semi-automated traffic conflict analysis to determine if the conflict patterns mirror the types of crashes observed at each site. Develop counter-measures in geometric design, signing, and/or pavement marking, etc. that help reduce conflicts, simplify driver task loads, and promote proper yielding at roundabout intersection. Develop training material that helps spread the knowledge. If sufficient funding is pooled together, a PHASE II project may be initiated to implement the proposed countermeasures at select multi-lane roundabout locations that have the exit conflict crashes, and verify the effectiveness of the counter-measures in reducing specific type(s) of traffic conflicts.

Comments

Study duration: 3 to 5 years Suggested contribution: $50,000 from each participating state DOT/local agency for the entire duration of the study. All state and local agencies are welcome to participate.

Documents Attached
Title File/Link Document Category Document Type Privacy Document Date Download
TPF-5(382) Acceptance Letter TPF-5(382) Acceptance Letter.pdf Memorandum Other Public 2018-07-16
Documents Attached
Title File/Link Document Category Document Type Privacy Document Date Download
Approval of SP&R Waiver Approval of SP&R Waiver Pooled Fund Solicitation #1451.pdf Memorandum Other Public 2017-10-02
Waiver Request Letter #1451 Waiver Request Leter.pdf Memorandum Other Public 2017-09-26

Drivers Failing to Yield at Multi-Lane Roundabout Exits

General Information
Study Number: TPF-5(382)
Lead Organization: Federal Highway Administration
Solicitation Number: 1451
Partners: City of Hilliard, Ohio, CT, FL, GADOT, NY, WA, WI
Status: Contract signed
Est. Completion Date:
Contract/Other Number:
Last Updated: Oct 04, 2018
Contract End Date:
Financial Summary
Contract Amount:
Total Commitments Received: $310,000.00
100% SP&R Approval:
Contact Information
Lead Study Contact(s): Wei Zhang
wei.zhang@dot.gov
Phone: 202-493-3317
FHWA Technical Liaison(s): Wei Zhang
wei.zhang@dot.gov
Phone: 202-493-3317
Commitments by Organizations
Organization Year Commitments Technical Contact Name Funding Contact Name Contact Number Email Address
City of Hilliard, Ohio 2019 $10,000.00 Letty Schamp Letty Schamp (614) 334-2456 lschamp@hilliardohio.gov
Connecticut Department of Transportation 2018 $10,000.00 Kevin McKernan Melanie Zimyeski (860)594-2144 Melanie.Zimyeski@ct.gov
Connecticut Department of Transportation 2019 $10,000.00 Kevin McKernan Melanie Zimyeski (860)594-2144 Melanie.Zimyeski@ct.gov
Connecticut Department of Transportation 2020 $10,000.00 Kevin McKernan Melanie Zimyeski (860)594-2144 Melanie.Zimyeski@ct.gov
Connecticut Department of Transportation 2021 $10,000.00 Kevin McKernan Melanie Zimyeski (860)594-2144 Melanie.Zimyeski@ct.gov
Connecticut Department of Transportation 2022 $10,000.00 Kevin McKernan Melanie Zimyeski (860)594-2144 Melanie.Zimyeski@ct.gov
Florida Department of Transportation 2018 $10,000.00 James McGinnis Jennifer Clark 850-414-4614 jennifer.clark@dot.state.fl.us
Florida Department of Transportation 2019 $10,000.00 James McGinnis Jennifer Clark 850-414-4614 jennifer.clark@dot.state.fl.us
Florida Department of Transportation 2020 $10,000.00 James McGinnis Jennifer Clark 850-414-4614 jennifer.clark@dot.state.fl.us
Florida Department of Transportation 2021 $10,000.00 James McGinnis Jennifer Clark 850-414-4614 jennifer.clark@dot.state.fl.us
Florida Department of Transportation 2022 $10,000.00 James McGinnis Jennifer Clark 850-414-4614 jennifer.clark@dot.state.fl.us
Georgia Department of Transportation 2018 $10,000.00 Christopher Raymond Supriya Kamatkar 404-347-0552 skamatkar@dot.ga.gov
Georgia Department of Transportation 2019 $10,000.00 Christopher Raymond Supriya Kamatkar 404-347-0552 skamatkar@dot.ga.gov
Georgia Department of Transportation 2020 $10,000.00 Christopher Raymond Supriya Kamatkar 404-347-0552 skamatkar@dot.ga.gov
Georgia Department of Transportation 2021 $10,000.00 Christopher Raymond Supriya Kamatkar 404-347-0552 skamatkar@dot.ga.gov
Georgia Department of Transportation 2022 $10,000.00 Christopher Raymond Supriya Kamatkar 404-347-0552 skamatkar@dot.ga.gov
New York State Department of Transportation 2019 $50,000.00 Howard McCulloch Wes Yang 518-457-4660 wes.yang@dot.ny.gov
Washington State Department of Transportation 2020 $30,000.00 Brian Walsh Douglas Brodin 360-705-7972 brodind@wsdot.wa.gov
Washington State Department of Transportation 2021 $20,000.00 Brian Walsh Douglas Brodin 360-705-7972 brodind@wsdot.wa.gov
Wisconsin Department of Transportation 2018 $0.00 Rebecca Szymkowski Evelyn Bromberg 608-267-7360 evelyn.bromberg@dot.wi.gov
Wisconsin Department of Transportation 2019 $50,000.00 Rebecca Szymkowski Evelyn Bromberg 608-267-7360 evelyn.bromberg@dot.wi.gov

Study Description

Study Description

Over 3,300 modern roundabouts have been constructed in the U.S. since the 1990s, and most of them have exhibited good to excellent operational and safety performances. However, an issue is slowly but steadily emerging with some multi-lane roundabouts that are experiencing much higher than expected crash rates. The type of crash to be investigated is associated with drivers failing to yield properly at exit – vehicles entering the roundabout from the outside lane collide with vehicles exiting the roundabout from the inside lane. Multiple factors may have contributed to the rise in crashes, such as driver mis-judgement of the available gaps, and lack of positive guidance by lane marking in the circulating lane, etc. Urgent action is needed to determine the root cause of such crashes so that proper solutions can be developed to mitigate the problem before it becomes a widespread issue that may jeopardize the implementation of roundabouts around the country.

Objectives

Investigate the factors contributing to crashes from Exit-Circulating path conflicts at multi-lane roundabout exits, and develop counter measures to cure this problem.

Scope of Work

This study is limited to 2-lane roundabouts, and consists of crash study, site specific design review, speed study, traffic study, traffic conflict study, and developing counter-measures. Identify five or more multi-lane roundabouts that are experiencing Exit-Circulating path conflict crashes, and similar number of multi-lane roundabouts that have comparable traffic demands but are performing well in terms of traffic operation and safety. Study the crash patterns of each roundabout, and the geometric design, signing and pavement marking (on the approach and inside the roundabout), summarize their similarities and differences, and develop hypothesis of the leading causes of the crashes. Perform on-site study to determine if vehicle speeds at critical locations conform to design intent, and use suitable technology to record field traffic data than enables determination of lane-based origin-destination pattern at each multi-lane roundabout intersection and computer assisted semi-automated traffic conflict analysis to determine if the conflict patterns mirror the types of crashes observed at each site. Develop counter-measures in geometric design, signing, and/or pavement marking, etc. that help reduce conflicts, simplify driver task loads, and promote proper yielding at roundabout intersection. Develop training material that helps spread the knowledge. If sufficient funding is pooled together, a PHASE II project may be initiated to implement the proposed countermeasures at select multi-lane roundabout locations that have the exit conflict crashes, and verify the effectiveness of the counter-measures in reducing specific type(s) of traffic conflicts.

Comments

Study duration: 3 to 5 years Suggested contribution: $50,000 from each participating state DOT/local agency for the entire duration of the study. All state and local agencies are welcome to participate.

Title File/Link Type Private
TPF-5(382) Acceptance Letter TPF-5(382) Acceptance Letter.pdf Memorandum Public
Title File/Link Type Private
Approval of SP&R Waiver Approval of SP&R Waiver Pooled Fund Solicitation #1451.pdf Memorandum Public
Waiver Request Letter #1451 Waiver Request Leter.pdf Memorandum Public

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