This article reports on a study undertaken to determine if traffic signals that are synchronized along a route are associated with fewer red-light violations than traffic signals that are not synchronized. The study included 3600 cycles of traffic signals at 12 intersections along 2 major urban arteries. The authors were particularly interested in aggressive driving and how to reduce at least one form of this problem. The results showed that the odds of entering the intersections in red in synchronized intersections were nearly 1/7 the odds of red light running (RLR) in nonsynchronized intersections. Male drivers were slightly more likely to run red lights than female drivers, however the effects of synchronized intersections were fairly constant across age, gender, and the presence or absence of passengers. The authors note that these benefits of synchronization are greatest when traffic is lightest, and they decrease as congestion increases.
Abstract