Planet Money Hear us out: We ban left turns and other big ideas
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Jan 24, 2024 Imagine banning left turns to improve traffic flow and safety—it's more feasible than it sounds! What if every newborn received a trust fund to help combat the wealth gap? And how about completely rethinking our electoral system to promote inclusivity and representation? These bold ideas explore innovative solutions to societal challenges, blending urban planning and economic reform in surprising ways.
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Ban Left Turns
- Ban left turns in all downtowns to improve traffic flow and safety.
- Replace left turns with three right turns.
Left Turn Dangers
- Left turns are risky, contributing to 40% of U.S. intersection crashes.
- This risk arises from crossing oncoming traffic, necessitating careful gap judgment.
No-Left-Turn Simulation
- Vakash Gaya simulated a no-left-turn downtown, finding drivers traveled one extra block on average.
- Despite this, trip completion times decreased due to less intersection waiting.