Channelized Right-Turn Lanes At Signalized Intersections: The U.S. Experience

This paper presents an investigation into the current practice regarding the use of channelized right-turn lanes at signalized intersections, the type of traffic control used, and the safety experience of highway agencies. The study involved literature review and a practice survey, which was distributed to state and local agencies in the United States. The literature review revealed the overall lack of knowledge about the operational and safety aspects of channelized right-turn lanes explaining, to a large extent, the lack of guidance in practice. Survey results suggest the heavy reliance on engineering judgment by highway agencies in the use of channelized right-turn lanes and the selection of traffic control. Further, results confirmed a general perception in practice about of the safety benefits of signal control at channelized right-turn lanes, despite the fact that such benefits were not supported by studies or statistics. The study emphasized the dire need for further research on the operational and safety aspects of this right- turn treatment at intersections. Keywords: right-turn, signalized intersections, channelization, survey Language: en