Comparative Analysis of Freeway Exit Ramp Terminal Design Practices to Deter Wrong-Way Driving in Different States

Abstract

Although wrong-way driving (WWD) crashes are rare compared with other crashes, the severe outcomes resulting from these crashes make them an important traffic safety issue, especially on freeways. The initial point of origin for the majority of WWD crashes is the exit ramp terminal. During 2009–2013, the exit ramp terminals of full diamond and partial cloverleaf interchanges in Alabama experienced considerably higher frequency of wrong-way entries compared with those in Illinois. In this study, a comparative analysis is conducted between these two states to compare the differences in exit ramp terminal design practices and determine the differences that might have caused the relatively higher frequency of wrong-way entries at the exit ramp terminals in Alabama. The comparative analysis revealed that there is relatively higher usage of certain geometric design features and traffic control devices in Illinois, which contributed to deterring WWD. The lessons learned from this study can potentially benefit the 4E community (i.e., enforcement, education, emergency response, and engineering) in further understanding the best practices on off-ramp terminal design and traffic control devices features that have the potential to reduce WWD crashes on freeways.

Using Wrong-Way Driving Detection Data to Identify Factors That Affect Wrong-Way Driving Behavior and Compare Detection Technologies

“…The remaining detections included 61 (8.4%) that likely turned around (as only the incoming camera was activated) and 92 (12.7%) that activated multiple cameras but were not confirmed to have either turned around or entered the mainline. Most of the WWD detections occurred during nighttime (482 or 66.4%), which agrees with previous research on WWD crashes ( 3 – 11 ).…”

“…A significant amount of research has been done on limited access WWD crashes throughout the U.S. WWD crashes in Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas have been analyzed to identify significant factors and characteristics, with common characteristics being driver intoxication, older drivers, and nighttime conditions (3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11). The effects of exit ramp terminal design on WWD crashes at full diamond and partial cloverleaf interchanges have also been studied, with results showing that having non-traversable medians on the crossing road, reducing the exit ramp throat width, and having a wide median between adjacent exit and entrance ramps could reduce WWD crashes (11).…”

“…A significant amount of research has been done on limited access WWD crashes throughout the U.S. WWD crashes in Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas have been analyzed to identify significant factors and characteristics, with common characteristics being driver intoxication, older drivers, and nighttime conditions (3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11). The effects of exit ramp terminal design on WWD crashes at full diamond and partial cloverleaf interchanges have also been studied, with results showing that having non-traversable medians on the crossing road, reducing the exit ramp throat width, and having a wide median between adjacent exit and entrance ramps could reduce WWD crashes (11). To better understand WWD characteristics, the authors of this current paper from the University of Central Florida (UCF) have previously considered non-crash WWD events (WWD citations and 911 calls) and developed models to predict WWD crashes based on these non-crash WWD events, traffic volumes, and interchange designs; predict non-crash WWD events based on exit ramp characteristics; and predict WWD crashes and citations based on driver and regional characteristics (12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20).…”

Developing Commercial Motor Vehicle Crash-Specific Safety Performance Functions at Interchange Ramp Terminals in Kentucky

“…The results showed that crash frequency increased on ramp segments with higher AADT, short ramp lengths, or both. Atiquzzaman and Zhou conducted a comparative analysis of wrong-way driving (WWD) crashes that occurred at exit ramp terminals in Illinois and Alabama ( 18 ). The crash data were collected at ramp terminals of full diamond and partial cloverleaf interchanges in these two states for the years 2009 to 2013.…”