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NCHRP Web-Only Document 357 Wrong-Way Driving Solutions, Policy, and Guidelines Huaguo Zhou Pei-Sung Lin Qing Chang Cong Chen Yukun Song University of South Florida Auburn University Tampa, FL Auburn, AL Priscilla A. Tobias Mohammad Jalayer Arora and Associates, P.C. Parisa Hosseini Springfield, IL Rowan University Glassboro, NJ Conduct of Research Report for NCHRP Project 03-135 Submitted December 2022 © 2023 by the National Academy of Sciences. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and the graphical logo are trademarks of the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. NATIONAL COOPERATIVE HIGHWAY RESEARCH PROGRAM Systematic, well-designed, and implementable research is the most effective way to solve many problems facing state departments of transportation (DOTs) administrators and engineers. Often, highway problems are of local or regional interest and can best be studied by state DOTs individually or in cooperation with their state universities and others. However, the accelerating growth of highway transportation results in increasingly complex problems of wide interest to highway authorities. These problems are best studied through a coordinated program of cooperative research. Recognizing this need, the leadership of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) in 1962 initiated an objective national highway research program using modern scientific techniquesâthe National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP). NCHRP is supported on a continuing basis by funds from participating member states of AASHTO and receives the full cooperation and support of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), United States Department of Transportation, under Agreement No. 693JJ31950003. COPYRIGHT INFORMATION Authors herein are responsible for the authenticity of their materials and for obtaining written permissions from publishers or persons who own the copyright to any previously published or copyrighted material used herein. Cooperative Research Programs (CRP) grants permission to reproduce material in this publication for classroom and not-for-profit purposes. Permission is given with the understanding that none of the material will be used to imply TRB, AASHTO, FAA, FHWA, FTA, GHSA, NHTSA, or TDC endorsement of a particular product, method, or practice. It is expected that those reproducing the material in this document for educational and not-for-profit uses will give appropriate acknowledgment of the source of any reprinted or reproduced material. For other uses of the material, request permission from CRP. DISCLAIMER The opinions and conclusions expressed or implied in this report are those of the researchers who performed the research. They are not necessarily those of the Transportation Research Board; the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; the FHWA; or the program sponsors. The Transportation Research Board does not develop, issue, or publish standards or specifications. The Transportation Research Board manages applied research projects which provide the scientific foundation that may be used by Transportation Research Board sponsors, industry associations, or other organizations as the basis for revised practices, procedures, or specifications. The Transportation Research Board, the National Academies, and the sponsors of the National Cooperative Highway Research Program do not endorse products or manufacturers. Trade or manufacturersâ names appear herein solely because they are considered essential to the object of the report. The information contained in this document was taken directly from the submission of the author(s). This material has not been edited by TRB.
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COOPERATI VE RESEAR CH PROGRAMS CRP STAFF FOR NCHRP WEB-ONLY DOCUMENT 357 Waseem Dekelbab, Deputy Director, Cooperative Research Programs, and Manager, National Cooperative Highway Research Program Richard Retting, Senior Program Officer Dajaih Bias-Johnson, Senior Program Assistant Natalie Barnes, Director of Publications Heather DiAngelis, Associate Director of Publications Jennifer Correro, Assistant Editor NCHRP PROJECT 03-135 PANEL Field of TrafficâArea of Operations and Control Eric J. Hemphill, North Texas Tollway Authority, Plano, TX (Chair) F. Bryan Homayouni, Central Florida Expressway Authority, Orlando, FL Joseph W. Horton, California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), Sacramento, CA Michael T. McNeill, Ohio Department of Transportation, Columbus, OH Scott Neidert, Delaware Department of Transportation, Smyrna, DE Brian W. Ness, Idaho Transportation Department, Boise, ID Heidi Jean Spangler, Michigan Department of Transportation, Lansing, MI Paul J. Steinman, Rawlins IC, Raleigh, NC Jeffrey B. Shaw, FHWA Liaison
SUMMARY This research aims to develop a handbook for implementing traditional and advanced safety countermeasures to reduce Wrong-Way Driving (WWD) crashes and incidents on freeways and multilane divided highways. The proposed research approach is divided into two phases and ten tasks. Below is a summary of key findings from each task. Task 1 assesses data and findings from previous WWD studies. The literature review results are summarized in Appendix A: State of the Practices, including (1) 18 WWD crash studies by 14 states; (2) 10 WWD incident studies by five states; (3) Evaluation of WWD countermeasures; (4) WWD policies and guidelines developed by ten states; (5) Current practices of Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) countermeasures; and (6) International studies on WWD. Each part contains a summary of data sources, study methods, key findings, and research gaps. Task 2 conducts a national survey of state DOTs and tolling agencies on solutions, policies, and guidance to address WWD. A total of 49 states responded to the online survey. Some states provided multiple responses, representing various areas within that state. Phone or in-person interviews were conducted with representatives from selected agencies in 22 states. The survey and interview results revealed increasing awareness and use of current practices to combat WWD. Many states have started to collect WWD crash/incident data, conducted related studies, and deployed improvement programs. The survey also revealed some current deficiencies in policies, guidance, data collection, and effectiveness of countermeasures. Survey results indicated a high interest in a national handbook that would include network screening tools and guidelines for low-cost countermeasures and ITS technologies. Task 3 collects WWD crash and incident data. WWD crash data collected for this project include (1) WWD fatal crashes from Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) database for 2004â 2020; and (2) WWD crash data in California from the Highway Safety Information System (HSIS) for 2013â2017. WWD incident data collected include (1) WWD incident data in California from the Regional Integrated Transportation Information System (RITIS) for 2013â 2017; and (2) WWD incident data collected from traffic video recorded at 75 partial cloverleaf (parclo) interchanges in 13 states. Task 4 explores the relationship between WWD incidents and crashes and develops evaluation factors for countermeasures. Five years (2013â2017) of WWD incident and crash data in California were analyzed to obtain yearly and monthly distribution of WWD crash and incident data. The WWD incident/crash ratios were estimated for urban and rural areas. Finally, a general relationship was established between the crash frequency and incident. The results suggest that every 1,000â1,500 WWD incidents originating from an off-ramp might result in one WWD crash. Task 5 evaluates the effectiveness of geometric design elements and access control techniques in reducing the likelihood of WWD incidents or crashes. A comparative analysis of design practices was conducted for three states (Florida, Alabama, and Illinois). The results suggest that using a raised median and median extension on the crossroad can significantly reduce the risk of iv
WWD at parclo interchanges. Analysis of 410 WWD incident data from 75 locations indicated that a combination of design features that can increase the risk of WWD at parclo interchange terminals include (1) the loop off-ramp terminals at parclo B or AB interchanges are more prone to WWD than parclo A or other interchange types, and (2) the connection angle between off- ramp right-turn lane and crossroad has a direct impact on WWD incidents. Task 6 evaluates traditional low-cost traffic control devices (TCDs). A total of 410 WWD incidents collected at 28 Parclo interchange terminals were analyzed to assess the effectiveness of traditional TCDs on WWD distance and turnaround rates. The results suggest that (1) the first set of Wrong-Way (WW) sign(s) and arrow markings located closer to the ramp terminal could reduce WWD distance, and (2) Approximately 80% of WW drivers turned around before the first set of WW signs/arrows; 12% turned around before the second set, and 5% before the third set. Task 7 evaluates advanced TCDs and ITS technologies. The advanced TCDs and ITS technologies were evaluated based on existing available data, previous WWD evaluation projects, and a national survey with selected agency representatives in the United States. The advanced TCDs include seven countermeasures: newly- developed Signing and Pavement Marking (S&PM) standards by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), red Rectangular Rapid-Flashing Beacon (RRFB), red flush-mount Internally Illuminated Raised Pavement Markers (IIRPMs), detection-triggered light emitting diode (LED) lights around WW signs, detection-triggered blank-out signs that flash WW, delineators along off-ramps, and wigwag flashing beacons. Results from a follow-up national survey showed that the top three WWD countermeasures are (1) newly developed S&PM standards by FDOT for arterials, (2) red RRFBs WW sign, and (3) detection-triggered LED lights around WW signs for freeways off- ramps. ITS technologies applied in WWD incident mitigation include two major categories: (1) technologies that detect WWD and have the capability to communicate to a Traffic Management Center (TMC), including thermal camera detection systems, video analytics systems, detection- based systems installed at freeway off-ramps, and radar technology, and (2) technologies that communicate to other drivers about WW drivers, such as Changeable Message Sign (CMS) with the communications capability to a TMC. Thermal camera detection and video analytics systems were commonly used on freeway WWD detections. They can also be installed on the freeway off-ramps and arterials. Thermal camera detection systems generally have higher detection rates than those from video analytics systems. Detection-based advanced TCDs of red RRFBs and detection-triggered LED lights around WW signs, equipped with communication devices to inform TMC operators, are often deployed at freeway off-ramps. Based on the results from a follow-up national survey, the top three most effective ITS technologies for WWD detection, prevention, and reduction are (1) detection-based systems installed at a freeway off-ramp, (2) thermal camera detection systems, and (3) video analytics systems. The ratings of these three ITS technologies were close and did not have a statistical difference. Task 8 develops an investigation checklist for WWD incidents and crashes. A network screening application sheet and a comprehensive field investigation checklist were developed for transportation practitioners to assess partial clover leaf interchange terminal design features v
(e.g., geometric elements, access control, and TCDs) and other environmental factors (e.g., nearby bars, schools, or truck rest areas). The network screening application sheet was developed based on analyzing WWD incident data collected at 75 locations by applying two novel machining learning approaches. The field investigation checklist was developed based on existing literature and the new findings from this project. The checklist includes a list of contributing factors to WWD crashes and incidents and is intended to help practitioners identify engineering countermeasures and other education and enforcement measures. Task 9 prepares the draft handbook. The draft handbook was compiled from the research findings of this project and previously published guidelines for reducing WWD on freeways by the Illinois Center for Transportation (ICT). Task 10 organizes a National WWD Summit. The authors were provided with significant input and information on the draft handbook from the 80 attendees from 38 states at the Summit in Washington, DC, on August 4â5, 2022. The Transportation Research Board (TRB) has published the handbook separately. vi
ACRONYMS & ABBREVIATIONS AADT Annual Average Daily Traffic AASHTO American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials ADOT Arizona Department of Transportation ALDOT Alabama Department of Transportation ArDOT Arkansas Department of Transportation ATSSA American Traffic Safety Services Association BAC Blood Alcohol Concentration CATT Center for Advanced Transportation Technology Caltrans California Department of Transportation CCTV Closed-Circuit Television CDOT Colorado Department of Transportation CFX Central Florida Expressway Authority CHP California Highway Patrol CI Confidence Interval CMF Crash Modification Factor CMS Changeable Message Sign CR Crossroad CRIS Crash Records Information System CTDOT Connecticut Department of Transportation CV Connected Vehicle DNE Do Not Enter DOT Department of Transportation DRS Directional Rumble Strips DTSS Directional Traffic Sensor System DUI Driving Under the Influence EB Eastbound EPDO Equivalent Property Damage Only ER Exit Ramp FARS Fatality Analysis Reporting System FDOT Florida Department of Transportation FHP Florida Highway Patrol FHWA Federal Highway Administration FIRES Florida's Report Exchange System FLIR Forward-Looking Infrared Radar FTE Florida's Turnpike Enterprise GDOT Georgia Department of Transportation HAR Highway Advisory Radio HCTRA Harris County Toll Road Authority HSIS Highway Safety Information Systems HUD Heads-up Display ICT Illinois Center for Transportation IDOD Inside-Lane Driving in the Opposite Direction IDOT Illinois Center for Transportation IIRPM Internally Illuminated Raised Pavement Markers ILDOT Illinois Department of Transportation IMC Incident Management System IPWL In-Pavement Warning Lighting ISS Image Sensing System ITS Intelligent Transportation System vii
KARS Kansas Accident Reports Systems LED Light Emitting Diode MassDOT Massachusetts Department of Transportation MCA Multiple Correspondence Analysis MDOT Michigan Department of Transportation MoDOT Missouri Department of Transportation MOT Maintenance of Traffic MUTCD Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices NB Northbound NCDOT North Carolina Department of Transportation NCTA North Carolina Turnpike Authority NHTSA National Highway Traffic Safety Administration NMDOT New Mexico Department of Transportation NTSB National Transportation Safety Board OBU On-Board Units ODOT Ohio Department of Transportation OW One Way PennDOT Pennsylvania Department of Transportation PDO Property Damage Only S&PM Signing and Pavement Marking SOP Standard operating procedures PVD Passive Vehicle Detection REL Reversable Express Lane RFB Rectangular Flashing Beacon RFE Requests for Experiment ROI Region of Interest RIDOT Rhode Island Department of Transportation RITIS Regional Integrated Transportation Information System RRFB Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon RRPM Red Raised Pavement Marker RTI Radio Tomographic Imaging RW Right-Way SAPD San Antonio Police Department SB Southbound SOPs Standard Operating Procedures SPM Specialized WW Pavement Marker SPUI Single-Point Urban Interchange TAPCO Traffic and Parking Control Products and Solutions TASAS Traffic Accident Surveillance and Analysis Systems TCD Traffic Control Device TERL Traffic Engineer Research Laboratory THEA Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority TMC Traffic Management Center TOC Traffic Operation Center TRB Transportation Research Board TTI Texas A&M Transportation Institute TxDOT Texas Department of Transportation UDOT Utah Department of Transportation USDOT United States Department of Transportation VCR Videocassette Recorder viii
WB Westbound WisDOT Wisconsin Department of Transportation WSDOT Washington State Department of Transportation WW Wrong-Way WWD Wrong-Way Driving WWE Wrong Way Entry WWVDS Wrong Way Vehicle Detection Systems XGBoost eXtreme Gradient Boosting ix
Contents Chapter 1: Background ........................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Research Objectives ................................................................................................................. 1 1.3 Research Tasks and Content of This Report ............................................................................ 2 Chapter 2: National Survey and Interview Results ................................................................................. 3 2.1 Survey Results .......................................................................................................................... 4 2.2 Interview Results .................................................................................................................... 11 2.2.1 Data Collection and WWD Management-Partnership ............................................... 11 2.2.2 Recent or Ongoing Projects/Studies on WWD Crashes ............................................. 12 2.2.3 Improvements in WW-related TCDs and Geometric Designs .................................... 16 2.3 Summary ................................................................................................................................ 19 Chapter 3: WWD Incident and Crash Data Collection ......................................................................... 20 3.1 WWD Fatal Crash Data from FARS Database ...................................................................... 20 3.1.1 Data Extraction .......................................................................................................... 20 3.1.2 Descriptive Analysis ................................................................................................... 21 3.2 California WWD Crash Data from HSIS ............................................................................... 24 3.3 California WWD Incident Data from RITIS .......................................................................... 27 3.4 WWD Incident Data Collected in the Field ........................................................................... 27 3.5 Summary ................................................................................................................................ 29 Chapter 4: Relationship between WWD Incidents and Crashes ........................................................... 30 4.1 Review of Past Studies on WWD Crash and Incident Relationship ...................................... 30 4.2 Sensitivity Analysis of Models Developed in the Past........................................................... 32 4.3 Methodology .......................................................................................................................... 33 4.4 Relationship between WWD Incidents and Crashes .............................................................. 34 4.4.1 WWD Incident and Crash Data Analysis ................................................................... 34 4.4.2 Urban Areas ............................................................................................................... 35 4.4.3 Rural Areas ................................................................................................................. 36 4.4.4 Summary ..................................................................................................................... 37 4.5 Conclusions ............................................................................................................................ 39 Chapter 5: Effects of Geometric Design Elements and Access Control Techniques............................ 40 5.1 Comparative Analysis of Different Types of Interchanges .................................................... 40 5.2 Comparative Analysis of Parclo Interchange Ramp Terminal Design Practices ................... 42 5.3 Effects of Geometric Design Features on the Occurrence of WWD Incidents ...................... 47 5.4 Effects of Parclo Interchange Configurations on WWD ........................................................ 54 5.5 Connection Angle between Off-ramp Right-Turn Lane and Crossroad................................. 56 5.6 Conclusions ............................................................................................................................ 61 Chapter 6: Evaluating Traditional Low-Cost Traffic Control Devices ................................................. 62 6.1 Effects of Low-cost TCDs on WWD Incidents...................................................................... 62 6.2 Effects of Channelizing Islands on WWD Incidents .............................................................. 68 6.3 Emerging Low-Cost Countermeasures .................................................................................. 70 6.3.1 Directional Rumble Strips .......................................................................................... 70 6.3.2 Bidirectional Pavement Marking................................................................................ 70 6.4 Conclusions and Recommendations ....................................................................................... 71 Chapter 7: Advanced TCDs and ITS Technologies .............................................................................. 72 7.1 Evaluation of Advanced WW-related TCDs .......................................................................... 72 x
7.1.1 Evaluation Results for Single Countermeasures ........................................................ 72 7.1.2 Comparison Evaluation Results Across Multiple Countermeasures .......................... 74 7.2 Evaluation of Advanced WW-related TCDs through Nationwide Follow-up Surveys ......... 79 7.2.1 Survey Design and Distribution ................................................................................. 79 7.2.2 Survey Analysis Results .............................................................................................. 80 7.3 Benefit-Cost Consideration for Advanced TCDs ................................................................... 82 7.4 Best Practices of ITS Technology Implementation in WWD Mitigation .............................. 82 7.4.1 ITS-based Countermeasures based on Literature Review .......................................... 82 7.5 Evaluation Analysis of ITS Technologies .............................................................................. 86 7.5.1 Evaluation of Three Video Analytics WWD Detection Systems ................................. 86 7.5.2 Evaluation of Thermal Camera-based and Video-analytics Systems ......................... 88 7.5.3 Evaluation of Four WWD Detection Systems by CDOT â Proof of Concept ............. 90 7.5.4 Additional Case Studies .............................................................................................. 92 7.6 Follow-up Survey Results on Effectiveness of ITS Technologies ......................................... 94 7.6.1 Thermal Camera Detection Systems........................................................................... 95 7.6.2 Video Analytics Systems ............................................................................................. 95 7.6.3 Sensor-based Systems Installed at a Freeway Off-ramp ............................................ 95 7.6.4 Inductive Loops with Pavement Warning Lights ........................................................ 95 7.6.5 Changeable Message Signs (CMS) with the Communications Capability to TMC .... 96 7.7 ITS Technologies Implementation Guideline Evaluation ...................................................... 96 7.8 Application of Connected Vehicle (CV) Technology to Detect WWD Vehicles ............... 97 7.9 Summary and Recommendation Guidelines .......................................................................... 98 7.9.1 Summary of Research Findings .................................................................................. 98 7.9.2 Recommendations on Implementation Guidelines...................................................... 98 7.10 Conclusions .......................................................................................................................... 99 Chapter 8: Developing a Network Screening Application Sheet and Field Investigation Checklist .. 100 8.1 Introduction and Concept of Adopted Machine Learning Models ....................................... 100 8.1.1 eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) .................................................................... 101 8.1.2 Lasso-logistic Regression ......................................................................................... 101 8.2 Data Used ............................................................................................................................. 101 8.3 Results .................................................................................................................................. 104 8.3.1 eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) .................................................................... 104 8.3.2 Lasso-logistic Regression ......................................................................................... 107 8.4 Risk Prediction Application Sheet ....................................................................................... 109 8.5 Summary .............................................................................................................................. 109 8.5.1 Crossroad Design ..................................................................................................... 110 8.5.2 Ramp Design ............................................................................................................ 110 8.5.3 Intersection Design ................................................................................................... 110 8.5.4 Traffic Signs.............................................................................................................. 111 8.5.5 Pavement Markings .................................................................................................. 111 References ........................................................................................................................................... 112 Appendix A: State of the Practice ....................................................................................................... 124 WWD Crash Studies .................................................................................................................. 124 Past Studies on WWD Incidents ................................................................................................ 128 Evaluation of WWD Countermeasures ...................................................................................... 129 Existing WWD Policy and Guidance ......................................................................................... 141 ITS Countermeasures for WWD ................................................................................................ 146 xi
International Studies on WWD .................................................................................................. 152 Appendix B: Survey Questionnaire .................................................................................................... 153 Appendix C: Interview Questions on Advanced TCDs for WWD Crash/Incident Mitigation ........... 156 Appendix D: Follow-Up Survey Questions on Advanced TCD and ITS Technologies ..................... 159 Appendix E: Comprehensive Field Investigation Checklist ............................................................... 168 NCHRP Web-Only Document 357 contains the conduct of research report for NCHRP Project 03-135 and accompanies NCHRP Research Report 1050: Wrong-Way Driving Solutions Handbook. Readers can read or purchase NCHRP Research Report 1050 on the National Academies Press website (nap.nationalacademies.org). xii
