US intersection crashes need attention

27 January 2004: About 70 per cent of all crashes at intersections in the US involved stop-sign violations, according to research carried out at the US Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

The investigators examined the details of crashes at stop-sign controlled intersections in four US cities between 1996-2000.

They found that 12 per cent of all crashes at the intersections were rear-end shunts.

The research also suggested that under 18s and over 65s were more likely to be involved in intersection crashes.

The Institute says that potential countermeasures to deal with the problem include changing traffic control and intersection design, and increasing the conspicuity of stop signs with other warning measures.

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