Evaluation of the Cost-Effectiveness of Illumination as a Safety Treatment at Rural Intersections

This research study seeks to improve current understanding of the relationship between rural intersection safety and different illumination levels. It uses three parallel studies: a survey of rural intersection illumination practices among US state departments of transportation (DOTs), a safety analysis of rural intersection illumination, and a benefit-to-cost analysis of rural intersection illumination. These parallel studies indicate the following: (1) Most DOTs do not consider cost-effectiveness in rural intersection illumination projects; (2) There is little or no benefit to rural intersection illumination beyond a threshold of 12 lux; (3) Illuminance levels lower than the minimum recommended value or 8 lux could provide significant safety benefit; and (4) Any rural intersection that does not require electrification would be cost-effective for illuminances not exceeding 12 lux. The cost-effectiveness of other intersections must be determined based on overall costs, annual average daily traffic (AADT), crash rate, and a target benefit-to-cost ratio that signifies the DOT’s required level of cost-effectiveness. This research study provides a companion benefit-to-cost spreadsheet model to facilitate tradeoff analysis by DOTs.

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