Study Details

Study Title: Safety Evaluation of Median U-Turn Crossover-Based Intersections

Authors: Al-Omari et al.

Publication Date: 2020

Abstract: Alternative innovative designs for intersections were defined to enhance traffic operation and safety. Median U-turn (MUT) and restricted crossing U-turn (RCUT) intersections are among the types of alternative intersections that enable drivers to make left turn movements at median U-turn crossovers downstream of the main intersection. Recently, municipalities and transport agencies have tended to implement these types of intersections. However, their effectiveness in crash reduction has not been adequately determined in previous studies. This is because of the limited number of alternative intersections that were considered in these studies. In addition, there was no consideration for the unusual new geometric design of these intersections. In this study, a safety evaluation was conducted while considering the new intersection-related areas at MUT and RCUT intersections to clarify and quantify their effectiveness in crash reduction. This study considered 73 MUT and 12 RCUT intersections. Two types of MUT intersections were considered in this study. Crash modification factors for MUT and RCUT intersections were estimated by using before–after and cross-sectional methods. The results indicated that MUT and RCUT intersections are safer than conventional intersections. MUT intersections are effective in reducing total, property damage only (PDO), rear-end, and opposite direction sideswipe crashes, although they significantly increase single-vehicle and non-motorized crashes. RCUT intersections are effective in reducing fatal-and-injury, injury, head-on, and angle crashes. Findings of this research provide clear evaluation for decision makers about the effectiveness of MUT and RCUT intersections in crash reduction.

Study Citation: Al-Omari, M.M.A., M. Abdel-Aty, J. Lee, L. Yue, and A. Abdelrahman. "Safety Evaluation of Median U-Turn Crossover-Based Intersections". Transportation Research Record, Vol. 2674 (7), (2020) pp. 206-218.

Study Report: Download the Study Report Document


CMFs Associated With This Study

Category: Intersection geometry

Countermeasure: Convert intersection to median U-turn (MUT) intersection

CMF CRF(%)QualityCrash TypeCrash SeverityRoadway TypeArea Type
0.63336.75 StarsAllAllNot specifiedUrban and suburban
0.773222.685 StarsAllK,A,B,CNot specifiedUrban and suburban
0.754824.525 StarsAllA,B,CNot specifiedUrban and suburban
0.59845 StarsAllONot specifiedUrban and suburban
1.38-385 StarsSingle vehicleAllNot specifiedUrban and suburban
0.683531.655 StarsAngleAllNot specifiedUrban and suburban
0.255974.414 StarsHead onAllNot specifiedUrban and suburban
0.171982.815 StarsOtherAllNot specifiedUrban and suburban
0.525847.425 StarsRear endAllNot specifiedUrban and suburban
0.394260.584 StarsOtherAllNot specifiedUrban and suburban
0.93616.393 StarsOtherAllNot specifiedUrban and suburban
0.91558.454 StarsOtherAllNot specifiedUrban and suburban
0.216778.334 StarsOtherAllNot specifiedUrban and suburban
2.2432-124.324 StarsOtherAllNot specifiedUrban and suburban
0.650834.925 StarsAllAllNot specifiedUrban and suburban
0.717528.255 StarsAllK,A,B,CNot specifiedUrban and suburban
0.702929.715 StarsAllA,B,CNot specifiedUrban and suburban
0.629637.045 StarsAllONot specifiedUrban and suburban
1.4447-44.475 StarsSingle vehicleAllNot specifiedUrban and suburban
0.610838.925 StarsAngleAllNot specifiedUrban and suburban
0.334266.584 StarsHead onAllNot specifiedUrban and suburban
0.178882.125 StarsOtherAllNot specifiedUrban and suburban
0.515848.425 StarsRear endAllNot specifiedUrban and suburban
0.39460.64 StarsOtherAllNot specifiedUrban and suburban
1.2337-23.373 StarsOtherAllNot specifiedUrban and suburban
1.1316-13.164 StarsOtherAllNot specifiedUrban and suburban
0.126987.314 StarsOtherAllNot specifiedUrban and suburban
1.9576-95.764 StarsOtherAllNot specifiedUrban and suburban

Countermeasure: Convert intersection to restricted crossing U-turn (RCUT) intersection

CMF CRF(%)QualityCrash TypeCrash SeverityRoadway TypeArea Type
0.763223.682 StarsAllAllNot specifiedUrban and suburban
0.566943.312 StarsAllK,A,B,CNot specifiedUrban and suburban
0.572642.742 StarsAllA,B,CNot specifiedUrban and suburban
0.841415.861 StarAllONot specifiedUrban and suburban
1.3079-30.791 StarSingle vehicleAllNot specifiedUrban and suburban
0.585441.462 StarsAngleAllNot specifiedUrban and suburban
0.066793.332 StarsHead onAllNot specifiedUrban and suburban
0.751124.892 StarsRear endAllNot specifiedUrban and suburban
0.92917.091 StarOtherAllNot specifiedUrban and suburban
0.329967.012 StarsOtherAllNot specifiedUrban and suburban