Impact of Indirect Left-Turning Measures from Driveways on Driving Behaviors and Safety

Direct left turn from driveways is considered as a contributor to accident and delay in at-grade intersections. Safety benefits of prohibiting direct left turn from driveways have been identified in many studies. Several engineering alternatives have been developed to accommodate prohibited driveway left turns. These alternatives are (1) right-turn followed by U-turn at the down stream intersection; (2) right-turn followed by median U-turn before the intersection; (3) right-turn followed by median U-turn after the intersection; (4) upstream Jug Handle, and (5) downstream Jug Handle. Each of the five treatments reroutes the left-turn vehicles at intersections, mid-block segments or side streets. Consequently, the alternatives of the indirect left-turning measures give rise to changes in drivers' driving behaviors and safety. Based on the practices and experiences from several states as well as the authors' studies, this paper presents the results from reviewing impacts of the indirect left-turning measures on driving behaviors and safety of the affected drivers. As a result of implementing the alternatives, changes in turning maneuvers and driving tasks, travel speed, speed disturbance, travel time, and drivers' perceptions of acceptable gaps in diverted turning maneuvers are addressed in the discussions of the impact on driving behaviors. And then, changes in conflict areas, conflict counts, and crash types are addressed in the discussions of impact on drivers' safety. In conclusions, major characteristics of the indirect left-turning measures are summarized and some key issues are also discussed.