DEFINITION AND DESCRIPTION
Under ‘Rest-In-Red’ (RIR) traffic signal operation, a traffic signal remains red in all directions until a green phase is triggered by a motorist or pedestrian. It is an effective, low-cost speed management tool under certain circumstances. Long-range detection enables anticipation of vehicles and changes the signal to green before a vehicle needs to significantly decrease its speed. It encourages safer speeds through intersections during late night and early morning hours.
Implementation Categories
| Area(s) | Traffic Operations, TSMO |
| Safety Category | 2 |
CONSIDERATIONS
- Requires updating signals to include long-range detection.
APPLICATION
- Use crash data and speed data to prioritize potential application sites with high pedestrian activity.
- Add/update signal equipment, implement, and monitor.
example
City of Portland. “Rest in red” traffic safety technology. https://www.portland.gov/transportation/vision-zero/rest-red#:~:text=%22Rest%20in%20red%22%20explained,-%22Rest%20in%20red&text=Traffic%20signals%20with%20%E2%80%9Crest%20in,do%20normally%20during%20the%20day.
Complimentary Countermeasures
- Using Traffic Signal Timing to Meet Target Speeds
REFERENCES AND RESOURCES
City of Portland. “Rest in red” traffic safety technology. https://www.portland.gov/transportation/vision-zero/rest-red#:~:text=%22Rest%20in%20red%22%20explained,-%22Rest%20in%20red&text=Traffic%20signals%20with%20%E2%80%9Crest%20in,do%20normally%20during%20the%20day.
Kim, Soyoung. Fox 12 Oregon. PBOT: ‘Rest on Red’ traffic sensor will be tested to slow drivers down. 2024, February. https://www.kptv.com/2024/02/23/pbot-rest-red-traffic-sensor-will-be-tested-slow-drivers-down/
CONTACT:
Chris VanDyke
Research Scientist | Program Manager
chrisvandyke@uky.edu
