Resources to Address Rural Intersection Crashes

More than 20 percent of fatalities nationwide occur at intersections and more than 80 percent of rural intersection fatalities are at unsignalized intersections.

Stop sign at rural intersection
Stop sign at rural intersection (Shutterstock)

In Iowa, intersection crashes account for 30 percent of severe crashes, with 40 percent of those crashes occurring in rural areas (Iowa DOT 2013).

A list of general resources developed in Iowa to reduce rural intersection crashes is found here.

Summary of Rural Intersection Countermeasures

A summary of known performance for each rural intersection countermeasure is provided in the table.

Rural Intersection CountermeasuresSpeed Impact (mph)

CMF1

Other Crash Impacts1

Cost2

Usage Within IowaIowa-Specific Guidance
Increase visibility of stop signs
higher retroreflectivityN/AN/A-1 to -38%, -4% nighttime$commonrefer to MUTCD
double stop signsN/AN/A-11 total, -55% right angle$???refer to MUTCD
larger stop signsN/AN/A-19%$???refer to MUTCD
adding retroreflective material to stop signN/AN/A-100%$???refer to MUTCD
LEDs in sign face-2.70%N/A-42% in right angle$$???refer to MUTCD
Channelization (info is primarily from signalized intersections)
left turn lanesN/A0.66 to 0.93-18 to -44%$$$???refer to MUTCD or Iowa Design Manual
right turn lanesN/A0.85 to 0.96-18 to -27%$$$refer to MUTCD or Iowa Design Manual
Rumble strips
advance stop line rumble strips-51.11 to 1.22-43%$$commonIowa DOT Design Manual, Chapter 6, 6A-7; Iowa DOT Traffic and Safety Manual, Chapter 18
Beacons
standard overheadN/AN/A-12 to -39%, -12 to -19% angle, -56% fatal, -40% severe injury, -26% ran-stop sign$$limitedrefer to MUTCD
stop sign mountedN/AN/A-40%, -58% angle$$refer to MUTCD
Lighting
lightingN/AN/A0 to -49%$$$occasionalIowa DOT Traffic and Safety Manual, Chapter 6; Iowa Statewide Urban Design Standards, Chapter 11

(1) Actual crash reductions and CMF will vary by crash type. CMF and crash reduction values which were determined to be the most appropriate for Iowa rural two-lane roadways were selected from a range of studies.

(2) Estimated installation costs ($ < $5,000; $$: > $5,000 and < $10,000; $$$ > $10,000) — actual cost depends on size of treatment location, actual product selected, whether treatment is done in conjunction with other activities such as resurfacing/paving, etc. Maintenance costs can vary considerably but are not estimated.

References

Golembiewski, G.A. and B. Chandler. Intersection Safety: A Manual for Local Rural Road \ Owners. Report FHWA-SA-11-08. Federal Highway Administration, Office of Safety, 2011. http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/local_rural/training/fhwasa1108/fhwasa1108.pdf (PDF).

Iowa DOT. Iowa Strategic Highway Safety Plan: July 1, 2013–December 31, 2016. Iowa Department of Transportation, 2013. http://www.iowadot.gov/traffic/shsp/pdf/SHSP.pdf (PDF).

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