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TAYLORSVILLE — After being broadsided by an SUV, a woman wants to bring attention to a reportedly confusing traffic control system — the flex lanes.
In flex lanes, green traffic lights show which lanes are open, and red traffic lights show which lanes are closed. However, some drivers are mystified by the functionality of the flex lane red and green lights.
Taylorsville resident Shannon Deonier was broadsided by an SUV on Saturday on 5400 South and 2200 West when the SUV driver ran a red light.
Deonier says drivers are often confused, wondering whether the green lights mean go or simply that the lane is open for travel in their direction.
“The one who hit me didn’t see that the light had changed and just blew through it as if it were a green light,” Deonier said.
Currently, Deonier has 10 staples in her scalp and her pelvis is broken in three places.
“If it weren’t proof enough that I see accidents every day going home from work, now I get to be one of the statistics," Deonier said. “They see the green arrow and assume that's the intersection and that's why they'll just go right through."
Flex lanes were built a few years ago as UDOT looked for a solution to increase traffic flow during peak travel times. Traffic engineers say there is an ongoing effort to improve traffic flow and safety on 5400 South.
“We really feel there are ways to improve the safety out there by making those traffic signals even more conspicuous,” Matt Luker, UDOT traffic engineer, said.
In fact, during the previous week, UDOT began doubling the red lights on stoplights, making them easier to distinguish from the red and green flex-lane lights.
“We have added some new signals heads at three of the intersections there. There is more work going on this week to add the rest of those signal heads,” Luker said.
We really feel there are ways to improve the safety out there by making those traffic signals even more conspicuous.
–Matt Luker, UDOT traffic engineer
Although Deonier is happy to see safety measures being implemented, she said she is proof that 5400 South can still be dangerous.
“And there is so much with distracted drivers. If you are not paying attention on those flex lanes, you are not going to see the intersection. Personally, I would rather be safe then save a few extra minutes getting home,” Deonier said.
UDOT is planning to continue improvements on the system over the next couple of months. As for Deonier, she is aiming to be released from the hospital on Tuesday and will continue her recovery at home.
Contributing: Sara Jarman
