Pros and Cons of Traffic Signals

Because of the widespread belief that traffic signals offer the solution to all intersection traffic-control and accident problems, a number of signals have been installed nationwide where no legitimate operational warrant exists. Traffic records clearly show that the attitudes and misunderstandings that sometimes lead to unjustified installations should be resisted.

While many people realize that traffic signals can reduce the number of angle collisions at an intersection, few realize that signals can also cause an increase in other types of accidents. For example, it has been well documented that other types of accidents, notably rear-end collisions, usually increase when a signal is installed.

Signals offer the maximum degree of control at intersections. They relay messages of both what to do and what not to do. The primary function of any traffic signal is to assign right of way to conflicting movements of traffic at an intersection, and it does this by permitting conflicting streams of traffic to share the same intersection by means of time separation.