Auckland’s motorway on-ramp signals play an important role in managing traffic and improving safety, but some motorists seem to treat the red light as optional.
Ramp signals, installed on the city’s motorway network in the late 2000s, aim to manage the rate at which vehicles move down the on-ramp and onto the motorway.
With 91 ramp signals across the Southern, Southwestern, Northern and Northwestern motorways, Auckland has the largest system of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere.
Since their introduction, NZTA says travel speeds have improved by 12%, merging-related crashes have reduced, and throughput onto the motorway has increased by 18%.
NZTA said it was illegal for a motorist to go through a red ramp signal.
“Ramp signals are a legal traffic signal and running a red light holds the same penalty as a regular traffic light.”
Failing to stop at a red light will set you back $150 if you get caught.
Prakash Ranjitkar, a transport engineering expert at the University of Auckland, told 1News there could be many reasons for motorists not complying with ramp signals.
“Many drivers may not fully understand their purpose, perceive them as inconvenient, or believe they can safely merge without waiting.”
The signals control the rate at which vehicles entered the motorway and help to prevent “sudden surges” that could cause shockwaves, bottlenecks and unstable driving conditions, he said.
“This metered entry allows vehicles already on the motorway to maintain consistent speeds and reduces the risk of rear-end and side-swipe crashes near on-ramps.”
Ignoring these ramp signals could “undermine the entire motorway system”, he added.
“Uncontrolled merging can disrupt mainline flow, significantly raising crash risk, increasing congestion, leading to localised delays and a breakdown in coordinated traffic management, especially during peak periods.”
Ranjitkar suggested public education campaigns could help drivers better understand why the signals exist and how they benefit drivers.
Police said in a statement that officers actively watch priority lanes and the stop-go lights on the on-ramps when out on the road.
“If our officers see breaches they respond accordingly.
“We urge anyone with concerns around dangerous driving to report it to police immediately on 111 if it’s happening now, and on 105 after the fact.”
