How Does VDOT Decide When and Where to Install Traffic Signals?
Those red, yellow and green traffic signal lights are vital to controlling traffic in a safe and orderly manner. They let motorists “take turns” moving through busy intersections and can enhance safety. But, in the wrong location, a traffic signal can actually contribute to accidents and congestion. A potential accident exists every time a vehicle is stopped on the highway. Nearly every driver has experienced the anxiety of having a light suddenly turn yellow while rapidly approaching an intersection. We all have been caught behind one red light after another on a busy thoroughfare. The Virginia Department of Transportation’s (VDOT) job is to find the point where a signal will help more than it will hinder traffic and relieve more congestion than it will cause. In every case, VDOT’s primary consideration is safety.
