Too many traffic lights?

[Chris]

Red rest = asking for red light running, especially when traffic levels are low. Red running = higher risk of accidents. They'd better do a green rest on the through road.

[Bryant5493]

I've seen green rest. When the traffic on the side street approaches the junction, the light will change simultaneously, then change back.


Be well,

Bryant

[rawmustard]

Red rest = asking for red light running, especially when traffic levels are low. Red running = higher risk of accidents. They'd better do a green rest on the through road.

When a signal is at red rest, it immediately executes a phase when a call is placed for that phase. Red rest can only happen when servicable calls are absent from all the detectors. The only chance of a collision would be from two conflicting approaches barreling towards their respective red lights, where one would get the green (i.e., the drivers aren't preparing to stop at a red like they should).

[Michael]

I've come across a traffic light that - when no traffic is present, every direction has red lights 

Fail.

[Duke87]

Red rest = asking for red light running, especially when traffic levels are low. Red running = higher risk of accidents. They'd better do a green rest on the through road.

The idea is that you put the loops or video detection spots far enough in advance of the signal that the light turns green before the driver would normally hit their brakes to stop. If you have a rest in red signal where a car actually has to come nearly or actually to a stop before the light changes, it's designed improperly.

So, red light running is a non-issue if it's done correctly.