Enhancing Intersection Safety at Uncontrolled Three-Legged Intersections Through Assessment of Risk

Abstract

The accepted gap—the time or distance a driver deems sufficient to enter or cross an intersection—is a key indicator of traffic risk, particularly at uncontrolled three-legged intersections. Smaller accepted gaps are linked to higher risk due to an increased chance of vehicle conflicts. This study investigates the relationship between accepted gaps and risk and proposes a method to quantify the level of risk and severity (LORS) to guide targeted safety interventions. Data on vehicle speed, accepted gap and critical gap were collected from six rural intersections in India. Using a binary logit regression model and clustering techniques, the LORS was estimated and validated against actual accident data, yielding a predictive accuracy of up to 83%.

The significance of this study lies in its novel data-driven approach to safety assessment using parameters easily measured in the field. Designed for heterogeneous traffic conditions, the method provides traffic engineers and planners with a practical tool to assess intersection safety, recommend specific remedial measures and prioritise interventions based on risk and severity levels. With potential for automation and scalability, this research contributes to the development of safer road systems, particularly in low-resource settings where conventional crash data is limited or unavailable.