PURPOSES : In this study, the installation standards for micro-roundabouts at the intersection of local streets with two entering lanes of a 3.0 m lane width were developed. METHODS : The inscribed circle diameter where a design standard vehicle could turn around safely based on the lane width and speed was analyzed using AutoTURN software. A total of 864 analysis scenarios for different entering volume and left-turning ratio (10%, 20%, 30%, and 40%), intersection type (three-way and four-way), heavy vehicle ratio (0%, 5%, and 10%), and circle lane turning speed (10, 15, and 20 km/h) conditions were established and evaluated. VISSIM Micro-Simulation was used to estimate the entering volume for microroundabouts with LOS C. RESULTS : The results showed that the estimated entering volumes of the three-way and four-way micro-roundabouts with LOS C were 300~400 and 200~400 vehicle/hour/lane, respectively. CONCLUSIONS : It is demonstrated that the standard volume of entering vehicles for micro-roundabouts is approximately 200 vehicle/ hour/lane, considering the number of approach lanes, designed speed of circulating lanes, left turn ratio, and heavy vehicle ratio.

PURPOSES : The purpose of this study is to develop a service volume for signal metering on roundabouts to increase applicability of roundabout in Korea. METHODS: To develop the service volume for signal metering on roundabouts, traffic simulation studies were conducted using VISSIM software for various scenarios based on traffic volumes as approaches and location of detectors on controlling approach lane. Typically, the Vehicle Actuated Programming module in VISSIM was applied for analyzing more realistic traffic signal control conditions. RESULTS: As the left-turning volume is increased, the delay reduction rates were increased. And the case of 40 meter distance of a detector and 20 seconds red signal phase made better results. CONCLUSIONS: The signal metering on roundabout should be applied carefully because it is possible to lose roundabout strengthen in traffic operation aspect. The service volume for signal metering on roundabouts that suggested from this study is useful to decide the application of signal metering on roundabout.

PURPOSES :This study deals with traffic accidents involving trucks. The objective of this study is to develop a traffic accident model for trucks at roundabouts.METHODS :To achieve its objective, this study gives particular attention to develop appropriate models using Poisson and negative binomial regression models. Traffic accident data from 2007 to 2014 were collected from TAAS data set of road traffic authority. Thirteen explanatory variables such as geometry and traffic volume were used.RESULTS :The main results can be summarized as follows: (1) two statistically significant Poisson models (ρ2 = 0.398 and 0.435) were developed, and (2) the analysis revealed the common variables to be traffic volume, number of exit lanes, speed breakers, and truck apron width.CONCLUSIONS :Our modeling reveals that increasing the number of speed breakers and speed limit signs, and widening the truck apron width are important for reducing the number of truck accidents at roundabouts.

PURPOSES: The goal of this study is to analyze the operational efficiencies of special roundabouts using simulated programs. METHODS: This study primarily focuses on comparing the delays and traffic flow disturbances occurring at special roundabouts. In this study, the operational efficiencies of 450 scenarios (5 roundabout types × traffic volumes × directional ratios × measures) are analyzed according to the corresponding delays and traffic flow disturbances using VISSIM and SSAM. RESULTS : The main results are as follows: 1) the Hamburger roundabouts are determined to yield the least common-type delays, 2) the amount of delays at Turbo and Flower roundabouts with respect to relatively increased right-turn-type delays, in addition to the amount of delays at the Left-turn slip-lane roundabout with respect to relatively increased left-turn-type delays, are found to be reduced as compared to the common-type delays. Lastly, common- and increased right-turn-type traffic flow disturbances at the Turbo roundabout and increased left-turntype traffic flow disturbances at the Left-turn slip-lane roundabout are determined to be the most infrequent. CONCLUSIONS: This study comparatively analyzes five roundabout types: standard, Flower, Turbo, Hamburger, and Left-turn slip-lane. The effectiveness of roundabouts can increase according to given traffic volume, directional ratio, and measure of effectiveness.

PURPOSES: There are many recently constructed roundabouts in Jeollabuk-do province. This study analyzed how roundabouts reduce the risk of accidents and improve safety in the province. METHODS: This study analyzed safety improvement at roundabouts by using an accident prediction model that uses an Empirical Bayes method based on negative binomial distribution. RESULTS : The results of our analysis model showed that the total number of accidents decreased from 130 to 51. Roundabouts also decreased casualties; the number of casualties decreased from 7 to 0 and the seriously wounded from 87 to 16. The effectiveness of accident reduction as analyzed by the accident prediction model with the Empirical Bayes method was 60%. CONCLUSIONS : The construction of roundabouts can bring about a reduction in the number of accidents and casualties, and make intersections safer.

PURPOSES : This study compared two measures of traffic flow effectiveness on roads with roundabouts and signalized intersections and determined the more appropriate measure. METHODS: In addition to average delay time, the conventionally used measure, average travel time was introduced to measure traffic flow effectiveness because it is able to be obtained through field survey and reflect different travel distances and speed limits of roundabouts and signalized intersections. Using the two measures, roundabouts and signalized intersections were compared through simulations in terms of traffic flow effectiveness. RESULTS : For one-way single-lane roads, the two measures indicated consistent results that roundabouts were more effective than were signalized intersections when the traffic volume was less than 300 vphpl but vice versa when it exceeded 450 vphpl; however, the measures yielded inconsistent results when the volume was 350~400 vphpl. For one-way double-lane roads, the two measures indicated consistent results that roundabouts were more effective than were signalized intersections when the volume was less than 200 vphpl but vice versa when it exceeded 400 vphpl; however, the measures yielded inconsistent results when the volume was 250~350 vphpl. The results obtained using the two measures differed substantially for double-lane roads because behaviors such as weaving and lane changing at roundabouts are more common in double-lane roads than in single-lane roads. CONCLUSIONS : The average delay time would be lower on roads with roundabouts, but average travel time would be lower on roads with signalized intersections. Thus, evaluating the relative effectiveness of roads with roundabouts and signalized intersections by using average delay time alone would be inappropriate, whereas using average travel time as the evaluation index would yield fairer results.

PURPOSES: The goal of this study is to analyze the operational effects of special roundabouts at large-scale rotaries in Korea. In pursuing the above, this study gives particular attention to comparing standard roundabouts with special roundabouts. METHODS: This study reviews the various types of roundabouts, creates 270 scenarios, builds networks, and comparatively analyzes the operational effects by using VISSIM simulation model and SSAM(Surrogate Safety Assessment Model). RESULTS : First, the operational effects of standard and signalized roundabouts were analyzed, and it was determined that standard roundabouts are the best in the case of under-saturated traffic volume, and signalized roundabouts are the best in the case of over-saturated traffic volume. Second, the operational benefits of a Turbo roundabout were evaluated to be generally lower than the benefits of a standard roundabout, and the benefits of a Turbo roundabout increase when right-turn traffic volume increases. Finally, the safety conflicts of a Turbo roundabout were determined to be the least and decrease when right-turn traffic volume increases. CONCLUSIONS : This study suggests that Turbo roundabouts rank highest for safety, and signalized roundabouts are best for oversaturated traffic volume. This study can be expected to provide some implications for policy decision-making.

PURPOSES: This study dealt with traffic accidents occurring within roundabouts. The objective of this study was to analyze safety effect by introduction of roundabouts. METHODS: In pursuing the above, traffic accident data on roundabouts are collected and compared. For the analysis, collected data were separated as all intersection points, turning lane accident, approach lane accident by geometric design. RESULTS : Through the study results, it was found that the total accidents decreased by 55 accidents/2 year with safety effect of roundabouts. Also the result shows that accidents by point of two-lane roundabout at turning lane(0.26) and approach lane(0.27) is risky than total accidents by point(0.09). Moreover, accidents by point shows high value as diameter of a roundabout is bigger. CONCLUSIONS: When a roundabout is introduced at the intersections there are safety effects by reduction of traffic accidents.