| Popis: |
Aligning with a Safe Systems approach, innovative intersection designs seek to improve safety and reduce crash risk by reducing speeds, modifying conflict angles and minimising conflict points. However, limited research has explored how drivers subjectively experience these intersections and their perceptions of risk and workload. This study reports on the subjective evaluations and perceived workload of drivers who navigated five innovative and two control intersection designs. Three experiments were undertaken in which participants travelled straight-through on an inner lane (N=76), straight through on an outer lane (N=72), or completed a right turn (N=77). Measures of workload and qualitative evaluations were collected. Control intersections that were based on the current existing layouts were rated as having the lowest workload, likely because of familiarity with the intersection. For the innovative intersections, workload scores were highest for participants when travelling straight through the unrestricted squircle. By comparison, self-reported workloads were relatively low for the cut-through, raised approach, raised intersection and restricted squircle. Some concerns were raised about the perceived safety and complexity of the innovative designs. However, participants generally evaluated the intersections positively, finding the innovative designs easy to navigate. |
