New Dedicated Signals on King St Proves Most Torontonians Don't/Can't Read Road Signs!

King Street in Toronto has a TTC streetcar/bus priority corridor that runs east/west from Jarvis St to Bathurst St.

Throughout the corridor at most intersections, drivers can only turn right.
TTC vehicles, all buses, cyclists, construction vehicles, emergency vehicles, and other authorized vehicles are allowed to go straight.

The goal, is to speed up TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) service by reducing the number of vehicles on the road.

Due to increased volumes of vehicles turning right, leading right turn signal phases were installed at 8 of 13 intersections to improve traffic flow and TTC service, especially when the line of right turning vehicles spills over into the streetcar lane. There are 2 intersections where I saw streetcars turn right, making good use of the leading right turn phase.


Unfortunately, drivers are regularly not following the rules and are ignoring the road signs that forbid them from going straight.

This increased TTC streetcar/bus travel times significantly. Articles and studies prove it.

https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/mayor-chow...

Now, new changes to traffic signals will never allow drivers to go straight!

Aside from the yellow vehicle signals and pedestrian signals, new dedicated bicycle signals were installed. During the leading right turn signal phase, the bicycle signals will be red. Assuming the city of Toronto is expecting cyclists to be at the curb, it prevents cyclists from interfering with drivers turning right during the right turn signal phase.

New dedicated signals for TTC vehicles and authorized vehicles were installed as well!

The TTC & authorized vehicle signals will be green during the right turn phase and the pedestrian phase.
The yellow vehicle signals will never turn green anymore! It will only display the right turn green arrow when the light is red.

For drivers that don't follow the King St rules (or those that don't read road signs) where you cannot go straight, they'll be waiting at the red light, as long as it takes for them to read the road signs and turn right!

Because most Torontonians don't seem to know how to read road signs, hopefully it forces them to read the signage and just turn right!

It proves just how many Torontonians don't pay attention to or read road signs, and how many Torontonians should not have their driver's license.

This was also done, because it means unauthorized drivers going straight is considered running a red light. It will be easier to accuse people for breaking the rules, because running a red light is a bigger violation than disobeying a "no going straight" sign.

Overall, I am happy with the changes because it makes people read road signs, and it's easier to expose those that don't. For the right turn green arrow phases, I think adding the bicycle signals was overdue, despite drivers turning right and cyclists sharing the right turn lane. From what it looks like, cyclists are expected to wait at the curb, during the right turn phase. Or they could wait on the left side of the vehicles turning right, and follow the transit & authorized vehicle signal if that's safer.