Some US cities have begun rewarding careful drivers with fewer red lights
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Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Portland, Oregon, are using a novel traffic strategy that rewards law-abiding drivers with fewer red lights, a departure from traditional punishment-based enforcement. The system, an evolution of the 'rest in red' concept, uses speed sensors to grant an early green light to drivers at or below the speed limit, while speeding triggers a red light [citation:1][citation:2]. Albuquerque credits the approach with a dramatic drop in crashes and injuries on Lead and Coal Avenues, with resident Isaac Romero noting a significant reduction in nighttime racing and accidents [citation:1][citation:2]. Portland reports that at its first intersection on Southeast Powell Boulevard, average speeds dropped from 39 mph to the 30 mph limit [citation:1][citation:6]. While early results are promising, officials and researchers, including Oregon State University's David Hurwitz, caution that further study is needed to ensure the gains are not offset by unintended consequences like increased red-light running [citation:1][citation:6].
