Overview
- Restricted Crossing U‑Turn designs route side‑road traffic to turn right, travel a short distance, then make a controlled U‑turn, removing direct lefts and perpendicular crossings that produce the most severe collisions.
- FHWA findings report up to a 70% drop in injury crashes and up to a 54% reduction in total crashes at RCUT sites, while some local studies show roughly 50% declines in accidents.
- Kansas City, Salt Lake City and Charlotte are among U.S. municipalities reporting improved safety and smoother flow on higher‑speed corridors using RCUTs instead of roundabouts or traditional signals.
- Transportation agencies stress that successful deployment requires roadway reconstruction, prominent wayfinding and sustained public education because drivers often face an initial learning curve.
- Argentine outlets note the model has not been implemented locally, with only partial analogs on routes like Autovía 2 that lack the dedicated lanes and protections found in full RCUT designs.