Does the Type of Cross Section and Type of Intersection Affect Safety on Bypasses?

This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the impact of the road cross-section configuration and junction types on traffic safety along selected bypasses in Poland. The study evaluates the safety implications of different design alternatives based on empirical data collected from 18 bypasses, comprising both single and dual carriageway sections. The findings indicate that, although single-carriageway bypasses exhibit a lower absolute number of accidents and collisions, they demonstrate a higher concentration of such accidents or collisions compared to dual-lane bypasses. Furthermore, the severity of accidents is significantly higher on single-carriageway bypasses. The analysis also reveals that the majority of collisions, irrespective of carriageway type, occur at at-grade junctions and roundabouts, with only 20% occurring at grade-separated interchanges. This suggests that the implementation of grade-separated interchanges contributes to enhanced road safety outcomes. Additionally, the study concludes that, within the context of ring roads, roundabouts offer a safer alternative to traditional at-grade junctions.