A safety analysis of roundabouts and turbo roundabouts based on Petri nets

Abstract

Objective: In this work, a roundabout and a turbo roundabout model are compared and previous modeling with continuous Petri nets and safety are analyzed through indicators of complexity. Petri nets are a graphic and mathematical representation that allow a faithful modeling of urban systems.

Method: The methodology has been designed for the transformation of a real system to small subgraphs that represent the maneuvers in roundabouts, approximated as roads and lanes of incorporation. Places within the roundabout have been located and defined as continuous places from their influence and visibility toward adjacent conditions. The transitions have been modeled by time and inhibitory arcs, which represent priorities and areas where drivers must pay attention. The created networks represent a faithful model of vehicle flow trajectories in the roundabouts.

Results: The methodology is applied to the same real road intersection. The case study is a recent transformation from roundabout to turbo roundabout. The roundabout network complexity is corroborated by a greater number of entries and exits that lead to each roundabout place (reflected in the maneuvers that can be performed) and a greater number of inhibiting arcs. In most of the turbo roundabout places, the driver’s only option is reduced to occupying next place. The possibility of choosing between several places supposes a greater trajectory intersection and an increased time for decision making. The only situation where the complexity is the same between both systems is when a vehicle accesses the inner lane of the roundabout from the left lane on a single-lane road. The main maneuvers causing accidents have been modeled and their solution in a turbo roundabout is presented.

Conclusions: The reduced complexity of the turbo roundabout is due to the strict limitations in lane changes, turning turbo roundabouts into a safer model: A lower number of possible movements that can be performed by drivers and a smaller number of trajectories with collision risk. Petri nets have proven to be perfectly applicable to the representation of traffic circular systems (such as roundabouts and turbo roundabouts) and to measure the complexity and security of the system.

Keywords:

• Road safety
• roundabout
• turbo roundabouts
• Petri nets modeling

Additional information

Funding

The authors thank the Universidade de Vigo for financial support (00VI 131H 641.02), the Xunta de Galicia for support through human resources grant (ED481B 2016/079-0) and competitive reference groups (ED431C 2016-038), and the Ministerio de Economia, Industria y Competitividad–Gobierno de España (TIN2016-77158-C4-2-R, RTC-2016-5257-7). This work has been partially supported by the Dirección General de Tráfico (Ministerio del Interior–Gobierno de España; SPIP2017-02122). This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under grant agreement number 769255. This document reflects only the authors’ views and the agency is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains. The statements made herein are solely the responsibility of the authors.