City signal timing up for review

Christchurch’s orange traffic light phases could change slightly to help prevent red light-running.

The idea is a potential solution proposed by a multi-agency group tasked with tackling the issue of drivers running red lights.

The group includes the Christchurch City Council, the NZ Transport Agency, police, and the Christchurch Transport Operations Centre (CTOC).

CTOC manager Ryan Cooney said the group had looked into crashes associated with red lightrunning, and were considering whether there was a ‘‘real safety issue or is it just bad behaviour’’.

The group is investigating what drivers do when they run red lights, including whether they are turning or going straight, or speeding up or decelerating.

Cooney said preliminary analysis showed a correlation between running red lights and crash rates at intersections. Adjusting the amount of time lights stay orange is being considered.

The ‘‘all red phase’’ – when all of an intersection’s lights are red, allowing time for the intersection to clear before the next green light – may also change.

Christchurch traffic lights stay orange for 3.5 to 5.2 seconds, depending on the speed limit and width of the intersection.

The speed zone generally determines stopping time, and therefore the length of time an orange light is required. The width of an intersection determines how long it takes to clear.

Changes of between half a second and one second for orange and all red phases are being considered. Trials would be done to determine whether drivers would simply push their luck more if they were given extra time with an orange light.