Intersection Safety

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Collisions and injuries –some of them fatal – very often occur at intersections. The victims are often the most vulnerable road users (i.e., children, older pedestrians, and bicyclists). If not killed outright, victims can suffer serious and sometimes devastating, lifelong injury.

Prevalence

According to the Transport Canada’s National Collision Database, in 2022, 27% of traffic fatalities and 41% of serious injuries occurred at intersections in Canada both percentages being slightly higher than in (NCDB). However, the percentage varies by jurisdiction and is typically higher in urban areas. For example, in Ontario, the proportion of total collisions at intersections in 2019 was 42 percent. Ontario road safety annual reports (ORSAR).

Countermeasures:

At intersections with traffic signals, some of the most effective safety measures involve separating road users in time and space. Examples of separating road users in time include protected-only left-turn phases, stop lights with leading pedestrian intervals, and separate signal phases for bicycle and pedestrian movements. Examples of separating road users in space include high visibility crosswalks, designated bicycle crossings, and small corner radii which reduce turning speed and expand the pedestrian area, creating a safer environment for all users. In combination, these measures create what is referred to as a “Protected Intersection”, illustrated below here.

Photo of a protected intersection
“Protected” Intersection (Photo: City of Vancouver)
Photo of a typical modern roundabout
Typical Modern Roundabout (Photo: Google Images)

One of the most effective intersection measures is the modern roundabout shown above (IIHS: Roundabouts Safety Research). Roundabouts significantly reduce right-angle (side-impact) and head-on collisions (i.e., when a vehicle is turning left), and therefore can prevent most intersection-related fatalities and serious injuries by requiring vehicles to slow down, approach at an angle, and yield to traffic already on the roundabout before entering IIHS: Roundabouts Safety Research.

On the island of Montreal, right turns on a red light are prohibited to prevent collisions involving vehicles and vulnerable road users (i.e., pedestrians and bicyclists).Other municipalities are considering such a change as well.

Road agencies typically conduct Network Screening, which identifies collision-prone intersections, and carry out Road Safety Audits (at the planning or design stage) or In-Service Road Safety Reviews of existing intersections to identify opportunities for reducing the risk of collisions and injuries.

More information regarding intersection safety can be found at: