tom

Presentation - Total 15 minutes breakdown

Overall: Should be approximately 2-3 minutes of introduction of site outlining the specific of the site (amount of lanes from each road entering the intersection, etc.)

Go through crash types and response for the rest of the presentation

Whether we split it into 4 parts ( Entering the intersection from any of the 4 points) or by crash analysis type (lack of vision related, signage related etc.) to be discussed

Lohith

Slide1 - Hello everyone , this is lohith today I am going to introduce our group project Slide2- as per research aim we have selected intersection of XXXXXXX by following particular procedure . Using NSW's centre for road safety's- Interactive map, we identified few hotspots with features potentially contributing to human factors crashes.​ We have visited site to confirm hypothesis and furthur understand crash site​ We have done crash analysis to get better idea on crash mechanism​ And finally evaluated site features according to human factors crash investigation checklist.​

Slide3- With our initial desktop review, we focused on identifying crash cluster – seen as pie charts in the interactive crash map, as per requirements, we focused on sites with multiple crashes with multiple serious injuries. ​ ​ We attempted to consider road works and changes over the time period, excluding certain sites for example those along the light rail routes, as traffic conditions and site layouts would likely have

changed significantly in the interim, and the site's crash record would not be reflective of potential human factors issues today.​

slide4-We considered several sites, finally selecting the intersection of Dacey Avenue, South Dowling Street and Lachlan Street for further investigation.​ slide5-This site was chosen for several factors.​ ​ Having satisfied crash requirements, the main features of the site were the presence of Moore Park Supercentre, and high speed traffic flows on South Dowling Street. We initially hypothesized that this may have been the cause of several crashes, whether that be involving slower traffic transitioning from quieter suburban and parking structure conditions to highway speeds, distracted drivers searching for parking/wayfinding to the centre, or drivers at high speeds on South Dowling street being distracted by advertising associated with the supercentre.​ ​ Additionally, the presence of a petrol station, and a pub in close proximity to the intersection add further possible human factors issues, whether that be through inebriated persons or indeed generally higher pedestrian traffic around a higher speed road or with drivers beign distracted by fuel prices, lane keeping or merging associated with entering or exiting the petrol station.​

slide6-The site has several lanes running through the intersection, of particular note being slip lanes to and from Dacey Avenue onto South Dowling Street, as well as turning lanes off south Dowling street onto Dacey Avenue.​ ​ The entrance to the supercentre is also visible here, as are turns into Lachlan street.​  And now jonathan going take up next part which is crash analysis.

Script for presentationÂ

Crash Analysis

Slide 7 Crash Analysis

Slide 8 34 crashes occurred at the site over the previous 4 years, with most being minor or moderate in severity.

Slide 9 The vast majority of crashes occurred during daylight. However crashes in the dark have all been either moderate or severe. This suggests an alternative crash mechanism at work for crashes in the dark, given the disparate crash severities for day and dark conditions.

Slide 10 A look at crashes by Road User Movement codes reveals that most crashes – and particularly most minor crashes at the site were rear ends, none of which occurred during dark.

Slide 11 Instead, for crashes in the dark, 2 were cross traffic, 2 right rear and the last an other same direction.

Slide 12 Additionally, rear end crashes were generally not serious, with serious crashes either pedestrian nearside or cross traffic incidents.

Slide 13 The overwhelming amount of crashes at this intersection occurred within the cross intersection itself with the 9 and 18 crash cluster, as well as the north and southbound legs of South Dowling Street, with an additional crash on the lane merging onto that same road.

Slide 14 This is not necessarily as expected based off site traffic patterns, with particularly weekday PM peak flows suggesting more congestion on the approaches from both Lachlan street and Dacey Avenue.

Slide 15 These flows are replicated over weekends, perhaps in part due to the shopping centre parking entryway on Dacey Avenue, as well as popular locations both to the north and south.

Slide 16 From this crash analysis, we formed the following hypotheses – There was a significant issue with rear end crashes, potentially linked to high- speed traffic on South Dowling Street, that there exists some safety concerns about vehicles joining high-speed traffic from adjacent roads, especially from Dacey Avenue, and that the surrounding buildings had a significant impact through traffic flows and potentially driver distraction.​ These hypothesises were further investigated through site visits, the findings being summarised in the following slides, beginning with the traffic approaching from Dacey Avenue

NEXT SLIDE (Slide 17)

OLIVERS SLIDES

Next up we will assess some of the safety issues when approaching the

intersection from Dacey avenue. NEXT SLIDE (Slide 18) This is the view

of drivers who are driving towards the intersection from Dacey avenue

and are about 100m away from the intersection. Here you cannot see any

direction signage as you approach the intersection leading to unneeded

stress in drivers. This is caused by the overhanging trees that are

obstructing the vision of the signs overhead. NEXT SLIDE (Slide 19) As

we move down Dacey Avenue towards the intersection, we come to our

second area of issue. In the photo on the left you cannot clearly see the

direction signage that is still being blocked by the overhanging trees. Also,

there is a speed limit sign just behind this telegraph pole, this photo is

approximately 75m out from the intersection. Both forms of signage can

be seen more clearly in the photo on the right which at this point is

approximately 50m from the intersection and about 10m from a

preliminary set of traffic lights indicated by the green line on the map in

the top right hand corner. This lack of vision causes excess head

movement in drivers in the lead up to a set of traffic lights which can

cause stress and/or accidents to occur. NEXT SLIDE(Slide 20) Now we

arrive at the preliminary lights that are placed at the exit of a carpark of

which vision is completely obscured. With limited vision of the traffic lights

and no vision of the carpark exit there is a high risk of cars driving on

Dacey Avenue not stopping for cars driving out of the carpark which adds

further stress to drivers and increases risk of an accident. NEXT

SLIDE(Slide 21) Now we have moved to about 20m away from the

intersection and are approaching a pedestrian crossing. The vegetation

on the left of the road coupled with an awkward placement of an electrical

pole means that cars approaching this left turn cannot see that

pedestrians have right of way here. They also potentially could not see

any pedestrians crossing at all particularly if they are crossing the road

from the left of the photograph to the right of the photograph. This lack of

vision of safety systems for pedestrians and of pedestrians themselves

could cause accidents in the future. NEXT SLIDE(Slide 22) In this slide

you can see the crossing that was discussed previously. Now we have

reached a turn left at any time sign. As you can see in the photograph the

cars to your right hand side make it very difficult to see incoming traffic.

When turning onto a high speed road this could prove catastrophic as it

leaves cars who are potentially about to be cut off very little time to brake

which could cause serious accidents.

Slide 23

Analysing Lachlan Street, approaching and exiting the intersection,

several safety concerns are present that may impact human performance

and safety. This is supported by the crash report on the Centre for Road

Safety page, with 9 crashes reported along this road section. From crash

reports, there was one serious injury involving a pedestrian nearside, two

moderate injuries involving a right through, and an out of control on bend

incident, and six minor incidences involving rear end collisions. Â

Slide 24

Looking at Lachlan street exiting the intersection, a sudden merge of the

left lane into the right lane is present. This may impact human factor 49,

from which the road environment is likely to induce unsafe behavioural

adaptation in lane changing for drivers if they are in left lane.Â

Slide 25

Looking at the turning options for Lachlan Street at the intersection,

slightly confusing signage and mixed messaging is present for vehicles

wanting to turn left. This may impact human factors 11 and 13, where

the confusion of too many signs and mixed messages may impact driver

decision making and expectations. As such, they may take their mind or

eyes off the road to try and process and interpret the information, thus in

turn making them inattentive to the road environment in front of them.Â

Slide 26

Finally, when looking at Lachlan Street going towards the intersection,

trees are hiding or obscuring important information, necessary for

appropriate driver decision making. As a result, human factors 5, 30, 34,

and 43 may be negatively affected. With the signs being out of view, driver

decision making, and expectation may be compromised. Thus, impairing

driver performance and negatively impacting safety.

S27Â Lets turn our attention to South Dowling Street coming from the north direction, has 3 turns at the intersection. Drivers can turn left using a slip lane onto Dacey Avenue which is labelled One. Secondly the middle two lanes can continue straight through the intersection which is labelled two and Lastly, drivers can turn right using a designated right turn arrow. However our focus will be on turns one and three which are the higher crash incident turns.Â

S28 So what this photo shows is the retaining wall and fence is obstructing key information for the road user, which in this case is the pedestrian crossing. The setback from the kerb to the wall is no more than half a meter and this has greatly reduced the stopping sight distance when turning left which is dangerous for both pedestrians and drivers due to the reduced perception reaction times. This also means there is a higher likelihood of rear ending, as vehicles cannot clearly see if a car has stopped for a pedestrian around the corner and this is supported in the crash statistics with a high number of rear ends on this turn.

S29 The other problem associated with this turn is the prominent advertisement that lies directly in the drivers line of sight. The intersection itself is already cluttered with different signs and signals and so having these large attention grabbing advertising in the background really exacerbates this problem. To compound matters worse, this turn requires a high driving task demand since the user has to make sure to also give

way immediately after the pedestrian crossing. There are also conspicuity problems here, for example, there is actually a 'turn left at any time with care" sign that is somewhat hidden within the clutter which is highlighted in purple and also there is a street light that is sort of in the way of the pedestrian crossing sign.Â

S30 Here is a clearer, closer shot of this turn and as you can see the high degree of visual clutter and the obstruction of signage. Now I will pass it off to Revanth to talk about the right turn at South Dowling Street.Â

Slide 31: Revanth Now we are approaching towards the right turn at the intersection of the south Downing Street. The following human factors issues are : 6 (), 29 (), 44 () and 49 .There’s Excess queueing in the right turn lane. Moving further back along South Dowling Street, there are only two lanes before this, so essentially, if that right turn lane is full, the lane next to it would queue up as well which means theres only one lane for drivers to continue straight which is pretty much that white ute in that photo. Obviously this is a very dangerous situation as you have many drivers who are stuck in that middle lane wanting to merge into the left lane.

There are also trees that extend well into the street level. There are a few issues with this, firstly, the illumination of South Dowling Street is interrupted particularly during the morning to midday period and also that large way finding sign does not contrast well with the leaves of the tree which results in reduced conspicuity for the road user.

slide 32 Looking at south Dowling street heading north toward the intersection, there were no significant safety concerns at the intersection itself . but going to beginning of the approach there are two inappropriate design decisions. Â

slide 33 The first one is at the petrol station as you can see the sign of no entry is small and obscured by the plantation around it. the road user might not be

able to see it clearly and even when they see it, there no incentive to confirm by the sign, since the exit is broad and there is space for two car at the same time which will encourage adaptation and ignoring the sign.

slide 34

And for the other safety concern, Amelia Street which Is located before the intersection, is not well defined to which vehicles can appear from, wishing to drive onto South Dowling Street and that have caused one serious crash and two minor crashes in the past.