Chatham County, NC
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Intersection Designs
Reduced Conflict Intersection:
Corridors with growing traffic volumes and high crash rates are good candidates for a reduced-conflict intersection. A reduced-conflict intersection – sometimes referred to as a superstreet, a synchronized street or a median U-turn – is a general term used to describe several types of designs that can be used to improve safety and traffic flow on a highway. There are variations to the designs, but they all function the same by cutting more than half of the potential locations, or conflict points, where drivers and pedestrians can collide.
The most common type of reduced-conflict intersection design eliminates left turns from side roads onto busy main roads. Raised medians direct traffic from the side road into turning right. When there is a safe opening in traffic, drivers enter the flow of traffic on the main route. To go the other direction, or cross the highway, they pull into a dedicated lane – typically less than 1,000 feet away – and make a U-turn. There might be a traffic signal at this location.
Here is a NCDOT Video produced by NCDOT about RCI's.
All Way Stop:
An all-way stop is an efficient and cost-effective way to improve the safety of an intersection and reduce the risk of serious crashes. Converting intersections into all-way stops has been shown to reduce fatalities and injuries by 77 percent on average. They are recommended after a thorough evaluation and investigation.
Roundabouts:
The N.C. Department of Transportation builds roundabouts to improve safety for drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists. They also help reduce the congestion and backups more typical of traditional intersections with stop signs and traffic signals.
A driver generally enters the roundabout more quickly than if waiting at a traffic signal. In addition, the modern roundabout is much smaller than older traffic circles and requires vehicles to travel at lower speeds (15-20 mph), making them safer than traffic circles. Additionally, the slower speeds make it easier for a driver to find a gap of traffic inside the roundabout before safely entering it.
Here is a NCDOT Video produced by NCDOT about roundabouts.
Roundabout Safety Facts
These safety improvements were achieved after roundabouts replaced 13 intersections with 55 mph speed limits:
- Total crashes: Down 41%
- Fatal and injury crashes: Down 79%
- Frontal-impact crashes: Down 62%
- Total crashes: Down 46%
- Fatal and injury crashes: Down 76%
- Front-impact (head-on) crashes: Down 75%
- Remember to give larger trucks and buses extra room, as they might need to straddle the lane.
- Big trucks should use the concrete island – called the truck apron – to help drivers maneuver around the roundabout.
- Never enter a roundabout while an emergency vehicle using flashing lights and sirens is passing through. If drivers are already in the roundabout, exit first, then pull over to let the emergency vehicle pass.
- Bicyclists should pick the appropriate lane before entering a multi-lane roundabout and stay in the middle of their chosen lane. Do not ride along the shoulder of the roundabout.
- Drivers should not pass a bicyclist while inside the roundabout.
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Pedestrians should use marked crosswalks along the outside of the roundabout, and not walk through the middle of it.
APA Freight Policy
American Planning Association (APA) formed a policy to aid planners and others interested with sustaining effective and efficient planning practices regarding freight. It is important to consider the importance of freight and the role it plays within the larger transportation systems. For more information regarding the APA Freight Policy, please visit the APA Freight webpage.