Research finds LED stop signs effect ‘similar to normal stop signs’

The results of a two-pronged investigation by researchers from the Minnesota Traffic Observatory at the US University of Minnesota on the safety related effects of flashing LED stop signs have just been released. They conducted two studies: a statistical study to compare the crash frequency after installation of a flashing LED stop signs at 15 intersections to a prediction of what that crash frequency would have been had the flashing LED stop signs not been installed; and a field study using video to exa
February 5, 2014 Read time: 2 mins
The results of a two-pronged investigation by researchers from the Minnesota Traffic Observatory at the US 584 University of Minnesota on the safety related effects of flashing LED stop signs have just been released.

They conducted two studies: a statistical study to compare the crash frequency after installation of a flashing LED stop signs at 15 intersections to a prediction of what that crash frequency would have been had the flashing LED stop signs not been installed; and a field study using video to examine the behaviour of drivers approaching a stop-controlled intersection before and after the installation of a flashing LED stop sign.

The statistical study estimated the reduction in crashes at about 41.5 per cent, but with 95 per cent confidence this reduction could be anywhere between 0 per cent and 70.8 per cent. The conclusion was that installation of the flashing LED stop signs reduced the frequency of angle crashes but that the magnitude of this reduction was uncertain.

The field study found that before installation of the LED stop sign, there appeared to be no change in the relative proportion of clear stops versus clear non-stops when minor approach drivers did not face opposing traffic, but after installation of the flashing LED stop sign the relative proportion of clear stops increased for drivers who did encounter opposing traffic

The group came to the final conclusion that, although qualified by the relatively small sample sizes and wide confidence intervals, a reasonable interpretation is that flashing LED stop signs appear to have an effect similar to that of stop sign-mounted beacon.
Air Quality & Weather Systems Urban Traffic Control

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Polarisation is glaringly obvious, says Sony
    December 3, 2018
    Glare from the sun is a factor in a large number of road accidents – many of them fatal. But there is a solution at hand: using polarisation can mitigate the effect of glare and improve ITS camera enforcement, explains Stephane Clauss The effect of glare on driver safety has been well documented. A 2013 UK study by the country’s largest driver organisation, the AA, calculated sun glare was a contributing cause in almost 3,000 road accidents in 2012 alone. This represented one in 33 accidents on Britain’s
    Read More
  • Countering congestion’s cost
    May 6, 2015
    A new report on the economic costs of traffic congestion predicts the problem will worsen significantly in future. Jon Masters reviews the figures and some suggested solutions. New figures on the rising economic and environmental costs of congestion have been published by the US traffic data specialist Inrix and the UK’s Centre for Economics & Business Research (Cebr). Their report finds the problem much bigger than previously thought.
    Read More
  • Cost benefit goes under the microscope
    August 21, 2017
    Conventional cost benefit analysis (CBA) of plans for urban smart mobility initiatives needs serious rethinking, according to a recently-completed European study. The three-year Evidence Project (the Project) emerged in response to concerns about the availability and quality of documented research – including CBA – required to prove that investment in sustainable urban mobility plans (SUMPs) can be economically beneficial. Covering 22 sectors ranging from electric vehicles to shared spaces, the Project clai
    Read More
  • The downside of driverless vehicles
    October 27, 2016
    Driverless cars will have a detrimental effect on congestion and security while the road safety benefits can be achieved sooner and cheaper using ADAS, argues Colin Sowman. Many Governments are consulting about the introduction of driverless vehicles and even running trials. As 70% or 80% of crashes are caused by human error, the promise of a crash-free future of driverless, self-driving or autonomous vehicles (call them what you will) is alluring, as are the claims of reduced congestion and lower emissions
    Read More

Highlighted Content