Wisconsin has introduced a simple road design fix that decreases commute times and saves lives
Published on Oct 18, 2025 at 9:13 AM (UTC+4)
by Molly Davidson
Last updated on Oct 15, 2025 at 4:39 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
Wisconsin just found a new way to fix dangerous roads – turning them upside down.
Okay, not literally. But close.
They’re building intersections that force you to make a U-turn instead of driving straight across.
And somehow, that little move is making traffic faster and way safer.
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The RCUT intersections are making roads safer
The idea’s called an RCUT, short for ‘Restricted Crossing U-Turn’.
Basically, if you want to cross a busy road, you first turn right, drive a bit, then make a U-turn to go the way you wanted.
It sounds like something your GPS would mess up, but it actually works brilliantly.
When cars don’t cross paths head-on, they don’t crash as much.
In tests across five states, these intersections cut total crashes by 15 percent and injuries by 22 percent.
In Alabama, one town saw crashes almost disappear, reporting an astonishing 99 percent drop.
And Wisconsin’s now installing RCUTs everywhere smaller country roads meet big highways.
A road design fix that saves time as well as lives
People thought it would be slower.
Turns out, it’s faster.
The Federal Highway Administration says travel time can drop by up to 40 percent.
In San Antonio, one road went from a 19-minute traffic crawl to just 12 minutes.
All because drivers learned to turn right before going left.
It might look unusual, but the design actually keeps big highways moving.
Cars spend less time waiting for lights and more time actually driving.
Wisconsin’s early results show smoother traffic, shorter waits, and fewer angry honks.
A dream combo.
And other states are watching.
If RCUTs keep performing like this, they might quietly replace roundabouts as the new favorite traffic fix.
Sometimes the smartest inventions aren’t high-tech, they’re just clever.
One right turn, one U-turn, and a whole lot fewer crashes.
Wisconsin’s proving that sometimes the weird way really is the better way when it comes to road design.
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Molly Davidson is a Junior Content Writer at Supercar Blondie. Based in Melbourne, she holds a double Bachelor’s degree in Arts/Law from Swinburne University and a Master’s of Writing and Publishing from RMIT. Molly has contributed to a range of magazines and journals, developing a strong interest in lifestyle and car news content. When she’s not writing, she’s spending quality time with her rescue English staffy, Boof.
