This study investigated to what extent the application of a major/minor junction or an exit construction can improve the safety at all locations where an access road joins a distributor road. Firstly, a literature study was conducted, in which both the results of Dutch and foreign projects were studied and analysed. Secondly, an accident analysis was carried out into approximately 100 crossroads in four Dutch municipalities. This concerned a before and after study of crossroads where the right-of-way regulation had been altered between 1991 and 1994. Although the results of the literature study and the accident analysis were not very convincing, a number of conclusions were drawn. In general, it would seem that an increase in the regulation level improves the safety. Application of a right-of-way regulation will, in most cases, improve safety. Maybe a number of conditions should be required in a situation, such as a T junction and traffic volumes that are not too high. In application to access roads these demands will usually be met. It would also seem that application to exit roads also has a positive effect. However, the size of the accident analysis study was too limited to give a definite answer about which was preferable.
Abstract