Browsing by Author "Hildebrand, Eric D."
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Item A surrogate safety analysis to evaluate the impact of circulatory pavement markings in two-lane roundabouts(University of New Brunswick, 2022-12) Taweel, Riley J.; Hildebrand, Eric D.This study involved a safety evaluation of multiple pavement markings schemes at the two-lane roundabout at the intersection of Smythe Street and Route 8 in Fredericton, New Brunswick using both automated and manual surrogate safety analyses. Several competing theories exist regarding which is the best practices for the use of circulatory lane pavement markings in two-lane roundabouts with two-lane entrances and exits. Some suggest that having no pavement markings fosters a safer environment for drivers, while others promote the use of circulatory pavement markings of various patterns as preferred options. The pavement marking schemes studied in this project were: no circulatory pavement markings installed (baseline case), circulatory pavement markings installed in accordance with the TAC MUTCD-C guidelines (Scenario 1), and an alternative circulatory lane pavement marking scheme with bolder lines (Scenario 2). In Scenario 1 and Scenario 2, traffic conflicts were observed at lower rates than in the base cases, however, the severity of the observed traffic conflicts remained approximately the same. Off-tracking events, in which vehicles failed to maintain their lane position while circulating the roundabout, were found to be reduced by 24.3% in Scenario 1, and 19.2% in Scenario 2. These findings support that circulatory lane pavement markings in two-lane roundabouts contributed to an environment with improved safety performance compared to the facility with no circulatory markings installed. Further research is required to confidently discern whether Scenario 1 or Scenario 2 provides the best safety performance.Item An analysis of bicycle-to-motor vehicle intersection collisions in New Brunswick(University of New Brunswick, 2022-07) Saba, Elie Afif; Hildebrand, Eric D.Cycling is a chosen mode of transport for a significant proportion of people in many countries. There are many associated benefits with this form of active transportation, however, conflicts between cyclists and motorists have caused numerous severe injuries and fatalities. Descriptive statistical analyses were undertaken with this project to better understand bicycle to motor vehicle (BMV) collisions at intersections in New Brunswick (NB) over a 20-year period. The study examined a total of 981 collisions that occurred in both urban and rural areas. The primary goals were to understand the different contributing factors and crash configurations that have contributed to decreased cyclist safety at the most hazardous conflict points on our road system. Different collision characteristics were investigated to gain insight into cyclist safety and identify appropriate safety countermeasures that might be implemented. The study revealed four key results: The total frequency of BMV collisions at intersections show a slight overall downward trend between 2000 and 2019, cyclists between 10 to 20 years of age and males were the most prevalent groups involved, and finally, right-angle (or T-bone) collisions were the most common configuration. Based on the results of this project, it is suggested that road authorities in NB consider select countermeasures to increase cyclist safety. Some suggested engineering countermeasures include the implementation of protected bicycle signals, bike boxes, and median refuge islands at high priority locations.Item Can rural older drivers meet their needs without a car? Stated adaptation responses from a GPS travel diary survey(Springer, 2011) Hanson, Trevor R.; Hildebrand, Eric D.Rural seniors are highly dependent on their automobile to meet their trip making needs, yet the effects of aging can make access to the vehicle difficult or impossible over time. The anticipated growth in the older person population, in concert with limited travel data available to support rural transportation planning in Canada suggests a disconnect between what rural older people may require for transportation and the availability of formal alternatives. Many will seek informal alternatives to driving, such as depending on friends and family, to meet their travel needs, but the degree is not well understood in the context of their actual vehicle usage and stated ability to adapt. This paper draws from a Global Positioning System (GPS)-based multi-day travel diary survey of a convenience sample of 60 rural older drivers (29 men, 31 women, average age of 69.6 years) from New Brunswick, Canada. Participants would rely on “friends and family” for 52% of all trips they undertook as driver in the survey, “walk or bike” for 14% of trips, and “not take the trip” in 34% of trips if they did not have access to a vehicle. “Medical trips”, “Shopping” and “Personal Errands” were the least discretionary of all trip types, yet the most difficult for participants to find alternate arrangements. Most participants (70%) believed a solution is needed in rural areas that does not involve depending on friends and family. These findings suggest the need for transportation policies that encourage the development and sustainability of rural alternatives.Item Understanding the relationships between design parameters, operational speeds and pedestrian safety at roundabouts(University of New Brunswick, 2024-04) Gallant, Alexander; Hildebrand, Eric D.; Hanson, Trevor R.This study explored relationships between roundabout design parameters, observed operating speeds, and motorist yield compliance to pedestrians. The research involved observation of operations at four roundabouts within the City of Fredericton, New Brunswick. All facilities had Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFB) installed at the marked crossings. A three-pronged study approach was employed that included determination of vehicle speed profiles, driver yielding and pedestrian behaviour, and a survey of pedestrian attitudes toward safety. The 85th percentile speeds observed for motorists at the marked crosswalk are marginally lower than the theoretical fastest path speeds at the roundabout exit. Another conclusion developed was the sightlines provided to motorists as they exit the roundabout are a key factor in the yielding rate. Yield rates were the lowest on the exit leg of high-speed roundabouts. The usage rate of RRFB’s was found to be higher at high-speed roundabouts.