Analysis of traffic accident statistics revealed that crossing collisions frequently occur at "medium-sized or smaller intersections without signals in urban areas" (see page 4). Based on this finding, we analyzed the causes of 89 crossing collision cases that had occurred at such intersections, extracted from traffic accident research data of 3,301 cases collected from 1993 to 2004.
Accidents were categorized into three patterns, focusing on causal human and road environment factors on the part of Party A (the person who committed the initial error), based on the analysis of traffic accident data and case studies.
Pattern I.
Accidents caused by, in addition to human error, road environment factors (poor visibility, lack of safety facilities, etc.)
[Examples]
- Visibility blocked by hedges, fences, or walls on private land or public parks
- Lack of road markings and traffic signs
- Traffic mirrors broken
Pattern II.
Accidents caused by perception errors (entirely overlooking an approaching vehicle), with road environment factors playing a minimal role
[Examples]
- Being distracted by other vehicles
- Chatting with passengers
- Checking the traffic mirror but failing to spot an approaching vehicle
Pattern III.
Accidents caused by judgment/forecasting errors (aware of an approaching vehicle but misjudging its behavior), with road environment factors playing a minimal role
[Examples]
- Falsely believing in one's right of way
- Erroneously assuming that the approaching vehicle would stop
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