A single intersection design can change how traffic moves and, in many cases, reduce the risk of serious crashes. That idea drives Minnesota’s use of Reduced Conflict Intersections (RCIs). These intersections aim to reduce the traffic movements that most often lead to severe injuries and collisions.
How do RCIs work at intersections?
At a traditional divided highway intersection, you may need to cross several lanes of fast moving traffic or make a direct left turn. Those actions can increase the risk of a serious crash.
An RCI changes that process. Instead of crossing traffic or turning left directly from a side road, you usually turn right first and then make a U-turn at a designated location farther down the road. This design reduces the number of places where vehicles can cross each other’s paths.
Minnesota has installed RCIs at several high speed intersections to improve safety and traffic flow. According to a Minnesota Department of Transportation safety study, RCIs have significantly reduced fatal and serious injury crashes involving motor vehicles by reducing the crossing movements that often contribute to the most severe collisions.
What are the advantages of RCIs?
Minnesota transportation research points to several potential benefits of RCIs. In general, these intersections may:
- Reduce fatal and serious injury crashes
- Reduce dangerous crossing conflicts
- Improve traffic flow on major highways
- Reduce delays for drivers traveling straight through
- Create more predictable traffic patterns
These benefits help explain why transportation agencies continue to consider RCIs for high speed divided highway intersections.
What challenges can RCIs create for drivers?
Managing an RCI may take some getting used to. You may face potential challenges including:
- Longer travel paths for some turns
- Driver confusion during the adjustment period
- Additional required U-turn movements
- More low speed rear end crashes in some locations
- Changes to access for nearby property owners
As a result, transportation agencies usually review each location carefully before choosing this design.
Why do road designs still involve risk?
Although RCIs have improved safety at many locations, no intersection design can prevent every crash. Drivers may still speed, ignore traffic signals, look at their phones or fail to yield to others on the road.
When that happens, serious injuries can still occur despite the roadway’s safety features. If another driver causes a crash at an RCI or any other intersection, you may have questions about your legal options and the compensation that may be available under Minnesota’s comparative fault system.
Why does driver behavior still matter?
RCIs show how road design can help reduce the chance of severe car crashes. Even so, safe roads still depend in part on responsible driving. Minnesota’s experience suggests that RCIs can lower the risk of fatal and serious injury crashes. However, driver behavior remains an important part of keeping drivers, passengers and pedestrians safe.