[Admiral Beez]

This has to stop. Forget about speeders. IMO, the more dangerous drivers are those that proceed to enter the intersection on a red light and then turn left, usually followed by two or three other cars. This of course steals the advance green from the motorists in the other direction, but also puts everyone at risk in the intersection. Forget about red light cameras, as these are few and offer only passive, not active control of the situation.

What we need is as follows. Every traffic light would have a dedicated signal for left turns. This signal would only activate at the beginning of the proceed cycle, meaning that before the light turns red, the left turn signal has already stopped well before. This could be done as part of a transition to LED technology over 15 or more years.

You don't necessarily need a dedicated left turn light like below at low volume intersections.

In those circumstances, you could simply add a straight arrow and turn arrow to the green indicator.

 

[innsertnamehere]

If the driver is in the intersection turning left when the light turns red he has the right of way to exit the intersection. Generally they should be able to get through on the yellow. Phase as theoretically nobody would be running the yellow, but as you very well know nobody follows that and treats a yellow like a green.

 

[BurlOak]

Not sure if this is intended for downtown or everywhere, but for a typical light with an advanced green arrow, a great number of people can probably turn during the full green when there is a break in the traffic. With this, you eliminate that and as a result need to build much longer left turn storage lanes and/or extend the turn phase, which will reduce the straight phase and reduce the capacity of the road.

 

[Hipster Duck]

The only one that bothers me is people who are behind the stop line who turn left after the light has clearly turned red. I hope red light cameras catch them.

What we need is as follows. Every traffic light would have a dedicated signal for left turns. This signal would only activate at the beginning of the proceed cycle, meaning that before the light turns red, the left turn signal has already stopped well before.

The problem with this is that dedicated left-turn signals may actually impede the speed of traffic in most circumstances. It's an extra 15 seconds of red, or so, for everyone who isn't turning left in either direction, and that adds up quite a bit.

 

[kEiThZ]

More red light cameras. Honestly, the city needs them at every major intersection. And along all major as avenues in the core.

 

[mrgrieves]

In Montreal almost all lights have advanced green arrows to turn left. In Toronto, it is expected that cars will go through red lights to turn left, because in the absence of an advanced green arrow this is the only way to do it.

Toronto still thinks its a small town in many regards.

 

[muller877]

How to stop pedestrians on flashing lights?!

Similar problem...impedes the final flow of automobiles/bikes turning left or right to clear the intersection so that pedestrians and automobiles can go the other way.

It's simple. Everyone has to respect the fact that other people are just as important as you...whether on a bike, car or walking.

I wish we had lights like a few of the islands. Red/yellow/green. Start you engines/get your pedals on the bike and then go. Creates a more efficient flow of traffic throught the light.

 

[Woodbridge_Heights]

^^^ Exactly. These kind of things are wholly dependent on the participants in a society respecting these rules, and far too many participants are too selfish or self absorbed their own lives to bother. Enforcement is nearly impossible because it's a "harmless offence". Just like drivers who use merge lanes, or turning lanes to gain just a few car lengths or cyclists driving on the sidewalk. It is the person rationalizing that the act they are doing is justified in their own world view.

 

[leopetr]

Easiest way would be to ban all left turns in Toronto. This would also significantly improve pedestrian safety, as well as eliminate most t-bone collisions. Cars turning left are the biggest cause of pedestrians being run over, as the driver is looking in the wrong direction when turning left.

Any destination that a car currently reaches by turning left can generally be reached by turning right three times.

 

[Mulder]

This has to stop. Forget about speeders. IMO, the more dangerous drivers are those that proceed to enter the intersection on a red light and then turn left, usually followed by two or three other cars. This of course steals the advance green from the motorists in the other direction, but also puts everyone at risk in the intersection. Forget about red light cameras, as these are few and offer only passive, not active control of the situation.

What we need is as follows. Every traffic light would have a dedicated signal for left turns. This signal would only activate at the beginning of the proceed cycle, meaning that before the light turns red, the left turn signal has already stopped well before. This could be done as part of a transition to LED technology over 15 or more years.

You don't necessarily need a dedicated left turn light like below at low volume intersections.

In those circumstances, you could simply add a straight arrow and turn arrow to the green indicator.

The easiest thing to do would extend the all-red phase by 2-5 seconds to allow the full intersection to clear.

 

[W. K. Lis]

The easiest thing to do would extend the all-red phase by 2-5 seconds to allow the full intersection to clear.

Give true priority to transit vehicles during the all-red phase.

 

[Admiral Beez]

The easiest thing to do would extend the all-red phase by 2-5 seconds to allow the full intersection to clear.

In Germany, when I drove there last summer, I noticed they do it the other way, with am immediate change, meaning that you don't enter the intersection on yellow unless you're sure you can make it. I also like how they have a flashing yellow before the light turns green, giving everyone time to put down their makeup, phones and coffee, while not stealing the advance green signal from everyone behind. Once you drive in Germany, it's hard to come back here - first of all nearly every car is manual shift, even most rentals, like the minivan I drove, so the drivers are naturally more involved.

 

[Admiral Beez]

Easiest way would be to ban all left turns in Toronto. This would also significantly improve pedestrian safety, as well as eliminate most t-bone collisions. Cars turning left are the biggest cause of pedestrians being run over, as the driver is looking in the wrong direction when turning left.

Any destination that a car currently reaches by turning left can generally be reached by turning right three times.

Roundabouts are ideal replacements for when left turns are needed, provided cross walks are well arranged.

 

[Woodbridge_Heights]

Roundabouts are ideal replacements for when left turns are needed, provided cross walks are well arranged.

I agree. Best places for roundabouts are those intersections where traffic volumes demand greater control than a stop sign but slightly less that a signalized lights.

 

[W. K. Lis]

Why does Ontario continue to pollute the streets with verbiage signage?

Other jurisdictions don't. See this video. Who is the traffic lights directed at?

[video=youtube_share;2QDiFJvYYas]http://youtu.be/2QDiFJvYYas[/video]