Are Double-Lane Roundabouts Safe Enough? A CHAID Analysis of Unsafe Driving Behaviors

Tomaz Tollazzi,Natalia Distefano,Giulia Pulvirenti,Salvatore Leonardi

doi:10.3390/safety7010020

Tomaz Tollazzi, Natalia Distefano + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/safety7010020

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Journal: Safety	Publication Date: Mar 8, 2021
Citations: 8	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: University of Maribor, University of Catania

Abstract

This study investigated the nature and causes of unsafe driving behavior at roundabouts through an on-road study. Four urban double-lane roundabouts with different layouts were selected for an on-road study. Sixty-six drivers (41 males and 25 females) aged 18–65 years took part in the study. Unsafe behaviors observed during the in situ survey were divided into three different categories: entry unsafe behaviors, circulation unsafe behaviors, and exit unsafe behaviors. Three chi-square automatic interaction detection (CHAID) analyses were developed in order to analyze the influence of roundabout characteristics and maneuvers on unsafe behaviors at double-lane roundabouts. The results confirmed the awareness that double-lane roundabouts are unsafe and inadvisable. More than half of unsafe driving behaviors were found to be entry unsafe behaviors. Moreover, the entry radius was found to be the geometric variable most influencing unsafe driving behaviors.

Highlights

Roundabouts require that entering traffic be diverted into a circular path parallel to through traffic, and that traffic within the circulatory roadway have the right of way
The tree structure involved, three splitting variables: entry radius, maneuver, and exit width, meaning that the variable exit width was responsible for two partitions
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Summary

Introduction

Roundabouts require that entering traffic be diverted into a circular path parallel to through traffic, and that traffic within the circulatory roadway have the right of way. Numerous studies [2,3,4] have shown that roundabouts do have advantages over conventional intersections in terms of traffic safety. According to [11], these behaviors can lead to a deterioration in the driving behavior of road users with very serious consequences for road safety, as well as increase the risk of accidents. Previous studies found a strong link between road safety and road user unsafe behavior [12,13,14]. While unsafe driving behavior occurs at all points on the road network, it can be pronounced at roundabouts. Due to the complexity of roundabouts, the nature of unsafe behavior may differ from that at other locations on the road network (e.g., mid-block, signalized intersections, and pedestrian crossings). There is an urgent need to recognize the nature of unsafe behavior by drivers at roundabouts, including factors that may help to mitigate the dangerous effects of such behavior

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Results

Conclusion