Right turn on red (RTOR) is permitted at most signalised intersections in the United States, primarily to reduce vehicle delays and fuel consumption. However, RTOR increases the risk of motor vehicle crashes and injuries, especially to pedestrians and in urban areas. To reduce the risk of pedestrian crashes at busy intersections, RTOR can be either entirely prohibited, prohibited during specified hours, or prohibited when pedestrians are present. The purpose of this study was to evaluate two methods for restricting RTOR at urban intersections - traffic signs prohibiting RTOR during specified hours, and signs prohibiting RTOR when pedestrians are present. Fifteen intersections in Arlington, Virginia, where RTOR had previously been permitted at all times were randomly assigned into three groups - control, no RTOR during specified hours, and no RTOR when pedestrians are present. Signs prohibiting RTOR during specified hours were very effective at increasing the percentage of drivers stopping at stop lines (from 21 to 40 percent), reducing the percentage of drivers turning right on red without stopping (from 32 to 13 percent), and reducing the number of pedestrians yielding to turning vehicles (from 17 to 7 percent). Signs giving drivers discretion to turn right on red based on whether pedestrians are present were not effective. (A)
Samenvatting