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7 <br />6. Conflict Points <br />Conflicts points are commonly used to explain the accident potential of a roadway. <br />Access management strategies are typically designed to reduce the number and <br />density of conflict points. <br />What is a conflict point? <br />A conflict point is the point at which a highway user crossing, merging with, or <br />diverging from a road or driveway conflicts with another highway user using the same <br />road or driveway. It is any point where the paths of two through or turning vehicles <br />diverge, merge, or cross. <br />7. Speed Differential Between Turning Vehicles And Through <br />Traffic <br />Speed differential is a simple yet important concept that forms the basis for many <br />access management measures. <br />What is speed differential? <br />Speed differential is the difference between the speed of vehicles that are continuing <br />along the main roadway versus those that are entering and exiting the driveway For <br />instance, if through traffic generally moves at 35 miles per hour and cars have to slow <br />to 10 miles per hour to enter a driveway, the speed differential at and near that <br />driveway is 25 miles per hour. <br />Why is speed differential important? <br />A speed differential above 20 miles per hour begins to present safety concerns. When <br />the speed differential approaches 30 to 35 miles per hour, the likelihood of a collision <br />between fast moving through vehicles and turning vehicles increases very quickly. <br />8. Benefits Of Access Management <br />An effective, local access management program can play an important role in <br />preserving highway capacity, reducing crashes, and avoiding or minimizing costly <br />remedial roadway improvements. The traveling public would then benefit from faster <br />and safer travel. The great majority of businesses would benefit from increased <br />economic vitality along awell-managed corridor. Taxpayers would benefit from more <br />efficient use of existing facilities. And public agencies would benefit from the relatively <br />low cost of access management; they could then use their resources for other needs. <br />9. Economic Impacts Of Access Management <br />Business owners often are concerned that changes in access to their premises will <br />have temporary or permanent impacts on their sales. They are concerned that <br />changes in direct access to their property-such as consolidating driveways or installing <br />raised medians will lead to declines in patronage and sales. Perceived impacts of <br />access management on adjacent commercial businesses and landowners are often <br />major impediments to projects moving forward. In the case of access management, <br />perceptions are often worse than reality. <br />Access management before development offers clarity and relieves the post- <br />development difficulty in retrofitting. <br />2 <br />