Vic Roads is to upgrade traffic signals at 20 high-risk intersections across Melbourne to improve safety and traffic flow.
The Agency said controlled right turns involved modifying traffic signals to provide road users with safer travel through intersections.
“At traffic lights with controlled right turn signals, vehicles can only turn right when there is a green turning arrow,” Vic Roads said.
“When traffic light signals include this feature, it reduces crashes between right turning and oncoming vehicles, and also gives pedestrians designated times to cross the road safely.”
It said about one third of deaths on Victorian roads resulted from crashes at intersections and made up 41 per cent of serious injuries on the State’s road network.
“The risk of casualties and serious injuries due to right turns is greatly increased, because drivers rely on behavioural instincts to select gaps in opposing traffic,” it said.
“Having a dedicated right turning signal reduces the risk of crashes between turning vehicles and oncoming traffic, cyclists, or pedestrians crossing the road.”
The Agency said it anticipated that controlled right turns at more intersections across Melbourne would prevent approximately 129 serious crashes over the next 15 years.
The intersections due to be upgraded can be viewed on the Safer Roads interactive map at this PS News link.
