Cities in the United States are experimenting with a traffic signal strategy known as "rest in red" to decrease high-speed crashes by incentivizing drivers to obey speed limits. This approach, which defaults traffic signals to red until a vehicle approaches, has been enhanced in cities like Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Portland, Oregon, with the addition of speed sensors. These sensors grant an earlier green light to drivers traveling at or below the posted speed limit.
Albuquerque implemented this system on Lead and Coal avenues, two parallel one-way streets, after struggling for years to reduce crashes. Officials credit the strategy with a significant reduction in accidents and injuries along a corridor that previously saw frequent high-speed collisions. "If you come to Albuquerque right now and you’re driving that corridor, you will learn pretty quickly that if you are speeding, you stop," Jennifer Turner, Albuquerque's director of municipal development, stated.
Residents have noted a positive change. Isaac Romero, who lives in Albuquerque, described a dramatic decrease in the sound of speeding vehicles and the aftermath of crashes since the "rest in red" system was installed. "It's a lot of change because now you don't get as many people flying through there," he said.
Portland has deployed a similar system on Southeast Powell Boulevard, a street with a history of serious and fatal crashes, particularly during late-night hours. Peter Koonce, who manages signals and street lighting for Portland, described the system as a "virtual speed bump." In its initial testing at one intersection, the system reduced average speeds from 39 mph to 30 mph, matching the speed limit.
Researchers from Oregon State University are evaluating the effectiveness of Portland's system. David Hurwitz, a professor of transportation engineering leading the study, cautioned that it is too early to draw definitive conclusions, but indicated that increasing speed compliance "seems like it has potential." Further research is planned to ensure the strategy does not lead to other negative outcomes, such as an increase in drivers running red lights.
Concerns about the system's effectiveness and driver awareness have been raised by advocacy groups. Jay Beeber, chief government affairs and policy officer for the National Motorists Association, questioned whether drivers would adapt their behavior without extensive education campaigns. He suggested that drivers might become frustrated if they don't understand why they are stopped.
Albuquerque also utilizes speed cameras in conjunction with the "rest in red" approach, a strategy that has been employed by many U.S. cities to deter speeding. Other cities, including Boulder, Colorado, and Long Beach, California, have also tested targeted efforts to slow drivers using the threat of more red lights.
Experts note that "rest in red" appears most effective on roads designed for high traffic volumes during the day but are less congested and prone to speeding at night. A 2023 study in North Carolina involving a "rest in red" implementation around the clock reported a 43% reduction in total crashes. However, this version of the system did not use speed sensors but relied on the default red light to slow vehicles.
Despite the promising results, cities have been slow to widely adopt the "rest in red" strategy. Romero suggested that its success depends on widespread driver cooperation, as a single speeding vehicle can affect the signal timing for all subsequent drivers on the route.