Aside from acquiring your driver’s license, a driver should also be aware of the different traffic rules to avoid accidents and road problems. One of the important traffic rules you should keep in mind is the controlled intersection.

This post contains important information you should know about controlled intersections.

Understanding Controlled Intersection

In Ontario, controlled intersections are the most common type of intersection design. These are mostly based on the four-way stop intersection design, but they often have additional features, such as yield signs and signs indicating the turning arrows.

In contrast to stop signs, which require drivers to come to a complete stop, controlled intersections require drivers to slow down and yield to other vehicles. This increases the safety at intersections, as drivers are not required to come to a complete stop, and it also reduces the number of time drivers needs to wait at intersections.

This type of intersection can help prevent accidents and make traffic flow smoother. Controlled intersections use traffic signals and road markings to indicate which direction traffic should flow at a particular time or on a specific day of the week.

The purpose of a controlled intersection is to help people understand where they’re allowed to go and where they’re not, rather than directing them to turn right on red every time they approach a stop sign.

Traffic Signals You Can Find In Controlled Intersections

Traffic signals are used to control the flow of traffic at intersections. They can be controlled manually or by an automated system and can manage the traffic flow at an intersection, optimize the flow of traffic, and provide a green phase for traffic that needs to turn right or left.

Here are some of the traffic signals you can see in a controlled intersection:

Green Light

Greenlight is a signal in which traffic can flow in a particular direction. When a green light is displayed, vehicles can move in the indicated direction. On an intersection, green light signals that it is safe to proceed through the intersection.

Yellow Signal

Traffic signals often come with a yellow light. This is the light that signals the beginning of the red phase. When the light turns yellow, it is almost always safe to proceed across the intersection. You shouldn’t cross the only time when the light is blinking yellow.

Red Signals

In a controlled intersection, the red signal means stop. You can’t go any further until the light turns green. The controlled intersection is one of the most common intersections used in modern cities. It allows vehicles to travel in a single direction, making them efficient for roads that don’t have many turns or exits.

Final Thoughts

As traffic volumes increase, and as the number of vehicles on the road increases, so does the risk of accidents. This is especially true in the United States, which has one of the highest traffic fatality rates in the world.

One of the most fundamental ways of minimizing the risk of accidents is reducing vehicles’ speed at intersections. This can be achieved in various ways, including the use of stop signs, red lights, and other traffic control devices.