The intersection safety feature cutting down on crashes

OHIO (WJW) — A relic of the past has a reason for becoming history.

For traditional warning signs at a busy intersection, relic status started when radar detection was born.

“We knew we had a high number of crashes at these locations and we knew we could find a way to mitigate it,” shared Matt Bruning with Ohio’s Department of Transportation.

Since 2012, ODOT has installed a number of radar detection systems at intersections to improve overall safety.

These radars can pick up a car’s speed and distance from at least 900 feet away, which helps the system anticipate the flow of traffic.

“It’s not obviously going to hold the light forever, but it does extend it a little bit and to know when to change that traffic signal,” said Bruning.

Back when ODOT started upgrading to radar detection, they were confident the stats would eventually prove this system a success.

Well, now those results are in, and they absolutely back the technology.

Based on a 2024 state-wide ODOT study, intersections that upgraded to radar detection have seen around a 25% decrease in total crashes, a 35% decrease in serious crashes and 50% less red light running crashes.

“To be able to look back and say the data is doing exactly what it needs to do is certainly gratifying,” said Bruning.

Traditional traffic signs might be a thing of the past, but what’s replaced the ultimate mission of keeping Ohio’s drivers safe.

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