News & Discussion: Roads & Traffic

[Llessur2002]

Or, is there a particular speed band where a big jump in fatality rate occurs? For example, if a 50-40 drop in impact speed would reduce fatalities by 30% whilst a 50-30 drop would reduce fatality rates by 35% then a simple cost/benefit analysis would identify that the 50-40 reduction would reap 85% of the benefits whilst avoiding 50% of the (often perceived) inconvenience to the motorist.

[Goodsy]

Or, is there a particular speed band where a big jump in fatality rate occurs? For example, if a 50-40 drop in impact speed would reduce fatalities by 30% whilst a 50-30 drop would reduce fatality rates by 35% then a simple cost/benefit analysis would identify that the 50-40 reduction would reap 85% of the benefits whilst avoiding 50% of the (often perceived) inconvenience to the motorist.

if all the cars on the road were equal then there probably would be. It's hard to sift through the statistics when some cars have roobars or have all metal front ends.

[Wayno]

Any reason why Adelaide metro could not (or should not) introduce 'left on red'? I travel OS extensively for work and regularly see this in place. I note typically the rule of needing to stop fully before proceeding through the red light.

Such a simple change would save 100s if not 1000s of people-hours each year.

[Waewick]

Any reason why Adelaide metro could not (or should not) introduce 'left on red'? I travel OS extensively for work and regularly see this in place. I note typically the rule of needing to stop fully before proceeding through the red light.

Such a simple change would save 100s if not 1000s of people-hours each year.

have you heard the people complaining about driving over double lines to give riders space.

aqpparently we are not intellegent enough to do that let alone pass through a red light!!!

[Norman]

Any reason why Adelaide metro could not (or should not) introduce 'left on red'? I travel OS extensively for work and regularly see this in place. I note typically the rule of needing to stop fully before proceeding through the red light.

Such a simple change would save 100s if not 1000s of people-hours each year.

Absolutely agree with you Wayno. They already do this in limited places in NSW.

[claybro]

Or, is there a particular speed band where a big jump in fatality rate occurs? For example, if a 50-40 drop in impact speed would reduce fatalities by 30% whilst a 50-30 drop would reduce fatality rates by 35% then a simple cost/benefit analysis would identify that the 50-40 reduction would reap 85% of the benefits whilst avoiding 50% of the (often perceived) inconvenience to the motorist.

From my memory, when last in Europe (in the area I was staying), the default speed limit was 30km/h. In fact my little Opel Astra had a red mark on the dash at 30Km/h to indicate the speed. The offset of that however was that all main arterial roads were 60-80km/h- autobahn generally 130km/h. Speed limits were consistent and traffic moved well. road work speed limits were sensible in comparison to the road they were on, (unlike the seemingly blanket 25k/h in SA) I believe that default 50km/h in back streets even 40 is still a bit fast in tight inner suburbs, and 30 would probably work better without causing too much delay. It might even prevent some rat running if policed correctly.

[metro]

Any reason why Adelaide metro could not (or should not) introduce 'left on red'? I travel OS extensively for work and regularly see this in place. I note typically the rule of needing to stop fully before proceeding through the red light.

Such a simple change would save 100s if not 1000s of people-hours each year.

Absolutely agree with you Wayno. They already do this in limited places in NSW.

There are still a few around Adelaide, this is one I used to live near a few years ago:

https://goo.gl/maps/DPwUPybK4QG2

[Wayno]

Any reason why Adelaide metro could not (or should not) introduce 'left on red'? I travel OS extensively for work and regularly see this in place. I note typically the rule of needing to stop fully before proceeding through the red light.

Such a simple change would save 100s if not 1000s of people-hours each year.

Absolutely agree with you Wayno. They already do this in limited places in NSW.

There are still a few around Adelaide, this is one I used to live near a few years ago:

https://goo.gl/maps/DPwUPybK4QG2

Jeez, we gotta lobby to get more of those signs made. Cheapest traffic flow improvement initiative ever!

[monotonehell]

Any reason why Adelaide metro could not (or should not) introduce 'left on red'? I travel OS extensively for work and regularly see this in place. I note typically the rule of needing to stop fully before proceeding through the red light.

Such a simple change would save 100s if not 1000s of people-hours each year.

"Turn left any time with care" & "turn left on red after stopping" signs exist in some places around town. But I'd call for the opposite. Cars turning across pedestrian walk signals and entering blocked intersections to turn right seem to cause a lot of traffic congestion in the CBD. Every day, during peak periods, cars get trapped in the intersection after pulling into it to turn and then block perpendicular traffic flow.

I'd like to see a study made into whether a five stage light cycle (like at the X-walks around the CBD) where no conflicting traffic or pedestrian activity exists each stage, is an overall better solution. Common sense says "no", so it's worth looking into because we all know how poorly informed common sense is.

[Wayno]

I can understand how left on red causes problems in areas of pedestrian traffic. There's probably 300+ pedestrian free intersections with no turn left with care facilities...

[monotonehell]

I can understand how left on red causes problems in areas of pedestrian traffic. There's probably 300+ pedestrian free intersections with no turn left with care facilities...

Is there such a thing as a "pedestrian free intersection"?

[Waewick]

I can understand how left on red causes problems in areas of pedestrian traffic. There's probably 300+ pedestrian free intersections with no turn left with care facilities...

Is there such a thing as a "pedestrian free intersection"?

There is when i'm driving

[Llessur2002]

There is when i'm driving

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKdcjJoXeEY

[Westside]

I'd like to see a study made into whether a five stage light cycle (like at the X-walks around the CBD) where no conflicting traffic or pedestrian activity exists each stage, is an overall better solution. Common sense says "no", so it's worth looking into because we all know how poorly informed common sense is.

I can say from experience that what I love about SA is its propensity for using no green arrows and allowing right turns on a straight green signal. I live in Canberra and there are very few intersections where the red arrow is removed allowing turns on a green straight signal. On many of the main roads in Canberra, intersections are 4 stage, which means one single car turning right in a contra-flow direction to peak traffic can hold up that peak traffic significantly. Adelaide's idea of no green arrows against peak flow is a great idea and significantly improves traffic flow. The only downside is that these intersections tend to be more dangerous than a completely traffic light controlled intersection. But, again it is all about what is an acceptable risk.

[drsmith]

I know what the motorcyclist in the following video would think.

https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/video ... ash/#page1