'Running the red' at signals on high-speed roads

This study of seven dual-carriageway junctions has shown that, despite similar opportunities (per approaching vehicle) for red-running at all sites, there are wide variations in the proportion of drivers doing so (6 per cent to 33 per cent of those with the opportunity). The reasons for this variation are not clear, but there are indications in the data that approach speeds, traffic cross flows and vehicle types may have played a part - combined possibly with local knowledge. On the assumption that some improvement in safety would be gained by reducing red-running, the engineering solution used in the U. K. has been the installation of speed discrimination systems to cater for drivers caught in the dilemma zone. However, this study has provided confirmation that speed discrimination only appears to work effectively at junctions on low-flow, high-speed roads. Even at the sites where speed discrimination has more opportunity to play its role, there would appear to be some deficiencies in this system. Language: en