Automated Roundabout Safety Analysis: Diagnosis and Remedy of Safety Problems

AbstractThe use of roundabouts is gaining popularity in North America for their safety, capacity, and environmental benefits. Studies have shown that roundabouts can significantly reduce injury collisions compared to stop control and traffic signals. As more roundabouts are constructed, there will be an increased need for a detailed analysis of their safety performance. Traditional road-safety analysis of roundabouts has relied on the use of historical collision records. This approach offers a less-complete understanding of roundabouts safety and their effects on the behavior of drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists. This paper represents a case study where automated video-based traffic conflicts analysis is used to diagnose safety issues at a roundabout in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Traffic conflicts are automatically identified and analyzed to develop an in-depth understanding of the behavior of road users and the causes of traffic conflicts. Conflicts contributing factors were identified and saf...