Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
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Keith McCord reportingUDOT has installed some new signs on the Bangerter Highway, which has significantly reduced the number of motorists who are running red lights!
It's believed to be a much safer highway, and all it took was three words: "Prepare to Stop". These signs are at three intersections on the Bangerter Highway, and there are more to come.
Nile Easton, UDOT Public Info. Officer: "On these types of roads where we combine high speeds with traffic signals, we see a lot of red lights being run."
That's been a concern ever since the Bangerter Highway was completed. It's four lanes, with speed limits of 60 miles per hour in spots.
Accidents on highways such as this one tend be very dangerous because of the high speeds. A person was killed two days ago when her car was broadsided.
It's obvious as you approach some of the interesections that motorists do have to lock up the brakes from time to time. Problem is, not everyone does.
Nile Easton, UDOT Public Info. Officer: "They come around a corner and they're going 60 miles per hour. They have a choice-- slam on their brakes and try to stop, or just go through. A lot of times they go through, which is dangerous."
So last June, UDOT installed these signs at three of the intersections at the south end of the valley. They're 200-300 feet from the intersection, and synchonized with the signals. Five seconds before the green light changes to yellow, motorists get the warning.
Nile Easton, UDOT Public Info. Officer: "The light pops on. It kind of gets your attention, so we can get the people slowed down."
UDOT says 15-thousand vehicles pass through these intersections each day, and as many as 750 run a red light.
Are these signals working? With about tive months worth of data, the news is encouraging.
Nile Easton, UDOT Public Info. Officer: "We've actually seen the red light running go down by about 80 percent since we've put them in. So we're really pleased."
It costs about 20-thousand dollars per intersection for these warning signals, but since they seem to be helping, UDOT plans to install more. Not just on other intersections on Bangerter, but on other highways as well.
