A Safe System-Based Framework and Analytical Methodology for Assessing Intersections [techbrief]

693JJ318F000100In the United States, the Safe System approach represents a paradigm shift in how road safety is addressed. Foundational to the Safe System approach is that no person should be killed or seriously injured when using the road system, and that it is a shared responsibility by all parties involved to ensure this becomes reality. From a roadway infrastructure perspective, a Safe System approach involves managing the circumstances of crashes such that the kinetic energy imposed on the human body be kept at levels that are tolerable in terms of survivability and degree of harm. At an intersection, this challenge is characterized through managing speed and crash angles, as well as considering risk exposure and complexity. This project developed a Safe System for Intersections method that can be applied at a project level and be incorporated into an Intersection Control Evaluation alternatives screening process to provide another metric for safety