To reduce the risk of accidents at the signalized intersection of Berliner Straße and Hochdahler Straße, the city of Hilden commissioned the BERNARD Gruppe with the planning of new traffic lights.
At the intersection of Berliner Straße and Hochdahler Straße, accidents have been increasing at the right-hand turn lane from Hochdahler Straße onto Berliner Straße in the westbound direction. Right-turning vehicles merge into the flowing traffic on Berliner Straße while observing right-of-way rules. This results in an accumulation of rear-end collisions.
The current signalization for right-turn traffic is designed solely to allow pedestrians to cross the right-turn lane without conflict. For this purpose, there is a single-field signal that either remains dark or changes to red. This signal is independent of the traffic light system of the main node.
Another disadvantage of the current situation is that pedestrians must actively request the green signal. As a result, people are tempted to cross the road even without an appropriate signal.
In the future, the right-turn lane will be signalized using 3-lamp traffic lights (green-yellow-red) with a green arrow, to be fully integrated into the signalization of the traffic lights at the intersection of Berliner Straße and Hochdahler Straße. On the one hand, pedestrians crossing the road are given clearance even without a request. On the other hand, vehicles turning right can turn from Hochdahler Straße onto Berliner Straße without conflict. In this way, the risk of rear-end collisions is reduced.
The goal of the new traffic light control system is to increase both pedestrian acceptance and traffic safety, and to reduce the risk of accidents in the area.
Friederike Hennecke, BERNARD Gruppe
Photo: ©City of Hilden