Effect of Different Stop Sign Configurations on Driving Speed When Approaching a Rural Intersection at Night-Time

As part of the road network utilized by all road users, intersections are places of high complexity and conflict risks. Statistics show that 40–60% of all road accidents occur at intersections, while around 20% of them result in fatalities. The consequences of collisions at intersections are particularly severe on rural roads during night-time due to higher speeds than in urban areas and poor visibility. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate how enhanced-visibility stop signs (fluorescent signs) affect driving speed when approaching a rural intersection at night-time. The study was conducted using a driving simulator comprising a 6.61 km rural road with six intersections. The results show that additional stop signs influence driving behavior and encourage drivers to reduce speed when approaching a rural intersection at night. This particularly relates to signs with enhanced visibility (fluorescent signs). The results of the study could be useful for road engineers and authorities, especially in developing countries, to increase road safety at dangerous unsignalized rural intersections by implementing low-cost traffic control measures.