Effectiveness of Red-Light Running Countermeasures: A Systematic Review

This paper presents a systematic review of the literature on the effectiveness of engineering countermeasures at reducing unintentional Red-Light Running (RLR) violations and improving safety at traffic intersections. 26 relevant studies on countdown timers, pavement markings, signal operations, advance warning systems, and in-vehicle warning systems are discussed and their results are summarized. While all countermeasures demonstrated varying levels of effectiveness, in-vehicle warning systems that provided audio and/or visual feedback to drivers were found to be the most promising in lowering RLR rates, with studies showing RLR reduction by 84.3%, collision rate reduction by 37%, lower RLR probability and lower risks of crashes. Limitations of each countermeasure are discussed and research shortcomings are indicated. Further areas of potential advancements are highlighted and refinement of countermeasures are proposed in light of improving their effectiveness in reducing RLR violations and improving intersection safety.