Some US cities have begun rewarding careful drivers with fewer red lights

For years, officials in Albuquerque, New Mexico, battled high-speed crashes along a residential street connecting the city. Punishing drivers for speeding did not seem to help. The solution was to reward law-abiding drivers with fewer red lights.

This strategy, known as "rest in red," makes traffic signals default to red until a vehicle approaches. However, Albuquerque and Portland, Oregon, pushed the concept further by incorporating speed sensors. These sensors grant a green light to drivers traveling at or below the speed limit, acting as a virtual speed bump.

Jennifer Turner, Albuquerque's director of municipal development, explained that residents quickly learn the consequences of speeding when entering the corridor. Isaac Romero, a local resident, noted a significant difference since the implementation. Previously, he would hear speeding cars and even witness accidents.

Portland recently tested this concept on a busy highway with a history of crashes. According to Peter Koonce, who manages the city's signals, the early results are promising. At the first intersection tested, the average speed decreased from 39 mph to the posted limit of 30 mph.

Oregon State University researchers are assessing the performance of the system. While David Hurwitz, a professor leading the study, believes the approach seems effective, further research is needed to ensure it does not result in more drivers running red lights.

Critics, like Jay Beeber, chief government affairs and policy officer for the National Motorists Association, argue that changing driver behavior requires a broader education campaign. He believes that rest in red may not be sustainable without such efforts. However, cities like Albuquerque and Portland have partnered with speed cameras to enhance the effectiveness of the rest in red strategy.