Project

Full title: Improved traffic safety at rural 2+1 intersections through data-driven insights and smart infrastructure (Swedish title Förbättrad trafiksäkerhet vid landsvägskorsningar genom datadrivna insikter och smart infrastruktur)

2+1 roads have been proven to be effective in reducing the number of traffic accidents. By separating the traffic flow through wires, the risk of collision with oncoming traffic is almost non-existent, leading to a high traffic safety standard on these road. Thus, it is possible to have a higher speed limit and still achieve satisfactory traffic safety.

However, studies show that intersections on 2+1 roads are particularly prone to traffic accidents, among other things due to large speed differences between primary and secondary roads. It is of great importance to reduce the risk of accidents, both at existing intersections and when new 2+1 roads are built. Therefore, it is important to understand which risk behaviors and factors that affect traffic safety at intersections on 2+1 roads. 

In this project, 3D-based sensors installed in the infrastructure are used to detect and evaluate road user behaviors and identify the factors that are causing a high risk of accidents. The goal is to develop a method for detecting road user behaviors that are associated with a higher risk of accidents and identify possible factors that can influence the road user behavior. In the project, the detection method and estimation method of traffic safety effects are developed and evaluated through measurements at 2-4 intersections.

Knowledge from the following projects: Säker framkomlighet (Vadeby et. al., 2016a; Vadeby et. al., 2016b), Säker framkomlighet i landsbygdskorsning (Berg, 2014), Billiga landsbygdskorsningar (Berg et. al., 2010). Connections (in methodology) to the ongoing project: Dynamisk uppföljning av trafikförhållanden vid vägarbeten för förbättrad styrning i realtid (TRV 2022/33393) and finalized projects Läsbarhet av lysande VMS i jämförelse med reflexfolie (TRV 2022/34645), ASCETISM (Vinnova FFI Dnr 2020-05137). Reports/documentation from finalised projects are available upon request.

Key words: 2+1 roads, traffic safety at rural intersections, road user analysis, traffic safety factors