The Regional Municipality of Durham has installed a new protected left-turn signal at Regional Highway 2 and Courtice Road in the Municipality of Clarington, part of the community of Courtice. The signal became operational on April 30 and is designed to improve safety for motorists making eastbound left-hand turns from Durham Regional Highway 2 onto Courtice Road.
The new fully-protected left-turn signal ensures that motorists can only turn left when the green left-turn arrow is visible. This dedicated signal phase removes the ambiguity of yielding to oncoming traffic, significantly reducing the risk of left-turn collisions at this busy intersection in Clarington. New traffic signal indications were implemented specifically for this movement to provide clear guidance to drivers.
The installation is part of Durham Vision Zero, a long-term road safety plan that aims to ensure no lives are lost or serious injuries occur on Durham Region roadways. The Vision Zero approach recognizes that traffic collisions are preventable and that road design, engineering, and infrastructure improvements play a critical role in keeping all road users safe across the region.
Left-turn collisions are among the most common types of intersection crashes in Ontario, often resulting in serious injuries or fatalities. Protected left-turn signals address this by providing a dedicated green arrow phase that gives drivers exclusive right-of-way to complete their turn without conflicting traffic movements. This engineering solution has been shown to significantly reduce the frequency and severity of left-turn crashes at treated intersections.
The Highway 2 and Courtice Road intersection serves as an important connection for residents in the growing Courtice community, linking residential areas with commercial destinations and regional transportation routes. As Clarington continues to experience population growth and increased traffic volumes, investments in intersection safety infrastructure become increasingly important for maintaining safe and efficient traffic flow throughout the municipality.
Durham Region has been steadily implementing safety improvements across its road network as part of the Vision Zero framework. These initiatives include protected left-turn signals, pedestrian crossover enhancements, speed management measures, and intersection redesigns aimed at reducing conflict points between vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists. The region evaluates crash data and traffic patterns to identify locations where infrastructure upgrades can have the greatest impact on safety outcomes.
Residents travelling through the area are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the new signal operation and follow the left-turn arrow indications. Drivers should note that left turns are only permitted during the dedicated green arrow phase under the protected signal configuration. More information about Durham Vision Zero and ongoing road safety initiatives is available at durham.ca/VisionZero.
The installation of the protected left-turn signal at Highway 2 and Courtice Road represents another step forward in Durham Region’s commitment to building a safer transportation network for all road users. As the region continues to grow and evolve, investments in proven safety engineering solutions remain a top priority for municipal planners and transportation officials working to protect residents across Clarington and the broader Durham community.
