Temporal and spatial analyses of rear-end crashes at signalized intersections

In this study, the generalized estimating equations with the negative binomial link function were used to model rear-end crash frequencies at signalized intersections to account for the temporal or spatial correlation among the data. The longitudinal data for 208 signalized intersections over 3 years and the spatially correlated data for 476 signalized intersections which are located along different corridors were collected in the state of Florida. The modeling results showed that there are high correlations between the longitudinal or spatially correlated rear-end crashes. Some intersection related variables are identified as significantly influencing rear-end crash occurrences at signalized intersections. Intersections with heavy traffic on the major and minor roadways, having more right and left-turn lanes on the major roadway, having a large number of phases per cycle (indicated by the left-turn protection on the minor roadway), with high speed limits on the major roadway, and in high population areas are correlated with high rear-end crash frequencies. On the other hand, intersections with three legs, having channelized or exclusive right-turn lanes on the minor roadway, with protected left-turning on the major roadway, with medians on the minor roadway, and having longer signal spacing have a lower frequency of rear-end crashes.