Traffic Conflict Studies

Traffic Conflict Studies provide valuable insights into road user behavior and help prevent accidents before they occur. They’re essential tools for traffic engineers, urban planners, and road safety authorities looking to build safer, smarter roads.

What is a Traffic Conflict Study?

A Traffic Conflict Study is a proactive method used to observe and analyze near misses or unsafe interactions between road users—before actual accidents happen. It helps traffic engineers identify potential hazards at intersections, crossings, and other key locations.

Instead of waiting for crash reports, conflict studies allow decision-makers to act early to prevent collisions. By identifying and understanding near-miss scenarios, we can design better infrastructure, implement safety-focused policies, and protect the lives of all road users—whether on wheels or on foot.

Why Traffic Conflict Studies Are Important

Crashes are rare, but conflicts are frequent—offering more data
Helps improve road safety without waiting for accidents
Offers a cost-effective way to evaluate intersections
Supports design improvements, signal adjustments, and policy changes
Useful for studying pedestrian, cyclist, and vehicle interactions

Key Definitions in Conflict Studies

Term	Definition
Conflict	An observable situation where two or more road users take evasive action to avoid a crash
Evasive Action	Sudden stop, swerve, or speed change to avoid a collision
Severity	Graded based on how serious or close the conflict was (minor, moderate, serious)
Point of Conflict	The exact location where the near miss occurred

Methods of Traffic Conflict Observation

Manual Observation
Observers are stationed on-site with tally sheets or video cameras.
Video-Based Recording
High-definition cameras are placed at conflict-prone points and footage is reviewed later.
Automated Systems
Use of AI-powered software to detect evasive maneuvers and track conflict events.
Drone Surveillance
Offers a bird’s-eye view to study complex junctions or roundabouts.

Data Collected During Conflict Studies

Type of conflict (rear-end, crossing, etc.)
Road user types involved (car, truck, bike, pedestrian)
Direction of movement
Time and duration of the conflict
Severity level (minor, moderate, serious)
Evasive actions taken
Weather and road conditions

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Types of Traffic Conflicts

Rear-End Conflict – One vehicle almost hits the back of another
Crossing Conflict – Vehicles or road users cross paths at intersections
Merging Conflict – Two vehicles attempt to merge into the same lane
Pedestrian Conflict – Vehicle and pedestrian paths intersect unsafely
Cyclist Conflict – Interactions between cycles and motor vehicles

Applications of Traffic Conflict Analysis

Redesigning intersections
Setting speed limits and traffic calming measures
Improving pedestrian safety
Evaluating before-and-after effects of road changes
Supporting traffic simulation and predictive models
Planning for safer shared roads with NMUs (non-motorised users)

Benefits and Limitations

Benefits

Proactive – addresses problems before crashes happen
Safer and non-intrusive data collection
Allows detailed behavior analysis
Applicable for short-term studies or rapid assessments

Limitations

Observational bias in manual methods
Requires trained observers or expensive software
Hard to capture every potential conflict
Conflict severity does not always predict real crash outcomes

Our Process

Steps to Accurate Traffic Data Analysis

1. Data Collection & Analysis

We gather and analyze traffic data to provide actionable insights that improve flow and safety.

2. Management & Execution

Our team ensures seamless project management for timely, high-quality delivery.

3. Project Oversight & Delivery

We oversee every phase to ensure projects meet deadlines, budgets, and client requirements.

12+

Years of Experience

Our Legacy

Why Choose Traffic Data Count?

We are your trusted partner in traffic data analysis, offering expert solutions to support smarter urban development and transportation planning. Here’s why clients choose us:

Testimonials

Honest Reviews from our Customers

“We collaborated with this team for a detailed intersection analysis project in Munich. The turning movement count data was precise, well-documented, and delivered on time.”

“The analysis helped us optimize signal timing and reduce congestion effectively. Highly recommend their expertise for traffic engineering projects.”