Liberals say turning left on red lights will help ease congestion
MOTORISTS would be allowed to turn left on a red traffic light at more intersections under an Opposition push to ease congestion and bring SA in line with other states. What do you think — VOTE NOW
MOTORISTS would be allowed to turn left on a red traffic light at more intersections under an Opposition push that it says is aimed at easing congestion and bring South Australia in line with other states.
The plan has the backing of Family First but the State Government warns that motorists, cyclists and pedestrians would be at greater risk of injury if the proposal went ahead.
Opposition transport spokesman David Pisoni yesterday introduced an amendment into Parliament that would expand the network of intersections where motorists could enter a road with a speed limit of 60km/h or lower.
There are a handful of intersections in SA where the practice is already allowed, but Mr Pisoni wants that broadened across SA to bring it in line with Queensland, New South Wales, the ACT and jurisdictions in the US.
He said doing so would improve the flow of traffic and disputed that it would be unsafe.
“Why is it safe to do in other states but not in South Australia?” he said. “It's a lack of political will.”
He said the Transport Department would be required to audit intersections which would be suitable for left-hand turns and to review the list every five years.
Under the Australian Road Rules, turning left on a red light is allowed wherever a “left turn on red permitted after stopping” sign was located.
Mr Pisoni’s proposal was introduced as an amendment to the Government’s Road Traffic (Roadworks) Amendment Bill, which was debated yesterday.
The Government’s Bill proposes a raft of changes to rules around roadworks, including fines of up to $50,000 for roadcrews that leave speed restriction signs out too long.
If the Government refuses to support the left turn change it could hold up the roadworks reforms to the legislation.
Transport Minister Stephen Mullighan first flagged that he wanted to crack down on reckless roadwork signage in The Advertiser in mid-2015.
Yesterday, he said the Opposition proposal on left turns would “only make our roads less safe”.
“It beggars belief that the Liberal Party would ignore the advice of road safety experts,” he said.
Centre for Automotive Safety Research Associate Professor Jeremy Woolley also was not “supportive of a wide scale deployment of left turn on red”.
“Road users are faced with complex decision-making tasks at intersections and the simpler we can make those tasks the safer things will be,” he said.
Instead, Mr Mullighan said the Government had been installing safer options for managing left turns such as slip lanes, left turn arrows and ‘left turn with care’ signs.
He said left turns on red lights were trialled in Adelaide in the past but many drivers did not stop, as required by the law, before turning left.
However, during debate in Parliament, Labor MP Tung Ngo said he was open to allowing the change.
“Obviously we have to consult with the traffic engineers but if it could be safely turned left on red, then my personal view is I think it should be supported,” he said.
RAA Senior Manager Road Safety Charles Mountain said allowing left turns at red lights “has its benefits at certain locations”, particularly where a road with low traffic flow met a busier arterial road.
However, Mr Mountain said the “downside of it is it can be disconcerting for motorists travelling on the main road”.
“They have a green signal, thinking they’re okay, and then suddenly they see a car coming out of a side street,” he said.
“If motorists aren’t prepared for this it can cause some emergency braking. It can cause confusion.”
Mr Mountain said there would need to be signage on both affected roads.
He also reiterated that it would be “critical” for motorists to make sure they came to a complete stop before entering a clear intersection to turn left.
Nick Xenophon Team MP John Darley said he was “tending towards” supporting the left turn proposal but had put questions to the Government about safety concerns.
Specifically, Mr Darley has asked for data on the number of accidents which have occurred at intersections where the manoeuvre is allowed interstate.
Mr Darley said he would support more slipways to allow more left turns but acknowledged that was a more costly option.
“Let’s look at all the potential sites that would enhance the traffic flow (by allowing a left turn on a red light). As a general rule I’d support that,” he said.
Dignity Party MP Kelly Vincent is understood to be opposed to idea at this stage but has also asked the Government for more information.
It’s also understood that the Green oppose the move.
Ms Vincent said the Government’s position that past trials were not successful “makes it difficult for Dignity Party to support something that has the potential to put vulnerable road users at risk”.
Tell us: Do you think left turns should be allowed on red lights?