Framework for evaluating risk of limited sight distance for permitted left-turn movements: case study

A reliability analysis framework is used to evaluate the risk of limited sight distance for permitted left-turn movements due to the presence of opposing left-turn vehicles. Two signalized intersection approaches in the city of Surrey were used as case studies for the framework. Geometric and traffic video data was collected and analyzed using a computer vision tool to extract the input variables probability distributions. The data was used in the reliability analysis where first-order and Importance Sampling methods were performed. The analysis showed that the probability of non-compliance was considerable at one approach due to its large left-turn lane offset. The analysis also showed that the probability of non-compliance increased substantially when the obstacle vehicle was a bus rather than a passenger car. Moreover, the time gap had a higher impact on the probability of non-compliance compared to speed. Strategies were suggested to overcome the high probability of non-compliance.

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