TYPES OF INTERSECTIONS Controls

There are several ways of controlling traffic at intersections:

1. YIELD SIGNS- A yield or give way sign indicates
that merging drivers must prepare to stop if necessary, to
let a driver on another approach proceed.

It is established as follows:
 All drivers on approached with yield sign are required to slow down and yield the right of
way to all conflicting vehicles at the intersections.
 Stopping is not mandatory
 Usually placed on minor roads approaches
 Most significant factor in the warrant of yield signs is the approach speed on the minor
road.
 Yield sign is warranted at intersections where there is a separate or channelized right-turn
lane without an adequate acceleration lane.
ex. ROUND ABOUTS SLIPLANE OR TURNING LANES

2. STOP SIGN

 Used where an approaching vehicle is required to stop

before entering the intersection.
 Should be used only when warranted as they cause
considerable inconvenience to motorists.
 Should not be used at signalized intersections or on
through roadways of expressway.
 May be used on a minor road when it intersect a
major road at unsignalized intersection.
 Also used where combination of high speed,
restricted view, and serious crashes indicates the
necessity of such control.

MULTIWAY STOP SIGN (FOURWAY OR ALL-WAY)

-Used as a safety measure at some intersections where the volume on
the intersecting roads is approximately equal and satisfy the following
conditions:
 There are 5 or more reported accidents in 12-month period.
 (a). Total intersection volume entering is at least 500 v/h for 8
hrs on average day.
(b). Combined volume (vehicle and pedestrian) on minor street
is at least 200 unit/hr for 8 hrs, with delay to minor street
at least 30 sec/vehicle during maximum hour, but
(c). The min. requirements for vehicular volume can be
reduced by 30% if the 85th percentile approach speed on
the major street traffic exceeds 40 mi/h

3. Intersection Channelization 
Channelization is the separation or regulation of conflicting
traffic movements into definite paths of travel by traffic islands or
pavement markings to facilitate the safe and
orderly movements of both vehicles and pedestrians.

 Used mainly to separate turn lanes from through lanes.

 Consist of solid white lines or raised barriers which guide
traffic within a lane.
 Guidelines for the use of channels at intersections include:
o Laying out islands or channel lines to allow a natural,
convenient flow of traffic.
o Avoiding confusion by using a few well located islands.
o Providing adequate radii of curves and widths of lanes for the prevailing
type of vehicles.

4. Traffic signals - All powered-operated devices for

regulating, directing, or warning motorists or pedestrians are
classified as traffic signals.

9 traffic signal warrants

1. Eight-hour vehicular volume
 The Minimum Vehicular Volume, Condition A
 Applied at locations where large volume at intersecting traffic is the principal
reason to consider installing a traffic control signal.
When traffic volumes on major streets and on higher-volume minor street
approaches for each of any 8 hr of an average day are at least equal to the volumes
specified in Table

 The Interruption of Continuous Traffic, Condition B

Applied at locations where Condition A is not satisfied and where the traffic volume on a
major street is so heavy that traffic on a minor intersecting street suffers excessive delay in
entering or crossing the major street. 
Warrant is satisfied when traffic volume on major street and on the higher-volume minor
street approach for each of any 8 hr of an average day is at least equal to the volumes in Table

 Combination of Warrants A and B

Applied at locations where Condition A and B are not satisfied and should be applied only after
an adequate trial of other alternatives that could cause less delay and inconvenience to traffic
has failed to solve the traffic problems.
 2. Four-hour vehicular volume

This warrant uses 4-hour volumes instead of 8-hour volumes used in warrants 1.

The warrant defines curves representing vehicles per hour on the major street (both
directions) and on the higher-volume minor-street approach (one direction only).

This warrant is satisfied (for urban locations) when, for each of any 4 high hours of an
average day, the plotted points fall above the specified curve for the existing combination of
approach lanes.
3. Peak hour
PEAK HOUR DELAY
 When the delay during any four (4) consecutive 15-minutes period on one of the minor
street approaches (one direction only) controlled by a stop sign is equal to or greater than
specified levels and the same minor street approach (one direction only) volume and the
total intersection entering volume are equal to or greater
than specified levels.
 Specified level: 4 vehicle-hours for one lane approach,
and 5 vehicles-hours for a two-lane approach.
 Specified volumes are: 100 veh/hr for one moving lane
and 150 veh/h for two moving lanes, and 800 veh/h
entering volume for intersections of four or more
approaches or 650 veh/hr for intersections with 3 approaches

PEAK-HOUR VOLUME
The Peak Hour signal warrant is intended for use at a location where traffic conditions
are such that for a minimum of 1 hour of an average day, the minor-street traffic suffers
undue delay when entering or crossing the major street.

4. Pedestrian volume - Applied where the traffic volume on a major street is so heavy that
pedestrians experience excessive delay in crossing the major street.
 When pedestrian volume crossing major street on an
average day is at least 100 for each of any 4 hours or 190
during one hour and there are fewer than 60 gaps per hr
that are acceptable by pedestrians for crossing.
 The nearest traffic signal along the major street should
be at least 300 ft away from the intersection.
 Signal should be of the traffic-actuated type with push buttons for pedestrian crossing.

5. School crossing – applied where the fact that schoolchildren cross the
major street. For the purposes of this warrant, the word
"schoolchildren" includes elementary through high school students.

6. Coordinated signal system - Progressive movement in a coordinated

signal system sometimes necessitates installing traffic control signals at
intersections where they would not otherwise be needed in order to
maintain proper platooning of vehicles.
7. Roadway Network - Installing a traffic control signal at some
intersections might be justified to encourage concentration and
organization of traffic flow on a roadway network
 8. Crash experience - The Crash Experience signal
warrant conditions are intended for application where the
severity and frequency of crashes are the principal
reasons to consider installing a traffic control signal.

9. Intersection near a grade crossing - The Intersection

Near a Grade Crossing signal warrant is intended for use at
a location where none of the conditions described in the
other eight traffic signal warrants are met, but the proximity
to the intersection of a grade crossing on an intersection
approach controlled by a STOP or YIELD sign is the
principal reason to consider installing a traffic control
signal.

QUESTIONS:
1. It is called a give way sign.
a. Stop Sign
b. Yield Sign
c. Warning Sign
d. Traffic Signal
2. It is the separation or regulation of conflicting traffic movements into definite paths of
travel by traffic islands or pavement markings to facilitate the safe and orderly
movements of both vehicles and pedestrians.
a. Channelization
b. Traffic island
c. Intersection control
d. Rotaries
3. This type of warrant is intended for application where the severity and frequency of
crashes are the principal reasons to consider installing a traffic control signal.
a. Intersection near a grade crossing
b. Pedestrian volume
c. Crash experience
d. School crossing

True or false:
 1. Installing a traffic control signal at some intersections might be justified to encourage
concentration and organization of traffic flow on a roadway network. TRUE
2. Progressive movement in a coordinated signal system sometimes necessitates installing
traffic control signals at intersections where they would not otherwise be needed in order
to maintain proper platooning of vehicles. TRUE
3. The Pedestrian Volume signal warrant is intended for application where the traffic
volume on a major street is so heavy that pedestrians experience excessive delay in
crossing the major street. TRUE

Advantages:
Eliminates many conflicts by assigning right of way
May increase intersection capacity if properly used
May reduce frequency of certain types of crashes
Can be coordinated along major street
Permit minor approach traffic to enter heavy traffic