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Three-second red lights: Do they increase pedestrian safety?

Posted at 2:16 PM, Sep 14, 2018
and last updated 2018-09-14 15:00:12-04

TUCSON, Arizona — The Tucson Department of Transportation is trying different things to keep pedestrians safe.

One of the newest experiments is the only crossing of its kind downtown. It's called a leading pedestrian interval (LPI).

For three seconds, all traffic lights are red to drivers, creating safer intersections.

"It gives the pedestrian a head start into the crosswalk," said Michael Graham with TDOT. "They're visible to the motorists before the motorists turn into the intersection."

The LPI intersection is at an intersection where there are a higher number of pedestrians using it. TDOT says it may roll this type of configuration out to other city intersections after a three- to four-month trial.