Reduced traffic jams with virtual traffic lights

Ozan Tonguz, a telecom researcher at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, recently came up with the idea of designing virtual traffic lights to tackle traffic jams.

The group of vehicles with the same direction will receive the largest lights
Blue and allowed to go while the lesser group will be red and wait.

Simulation of how to avoid the lines of ants, bees and termites, has been patented, using an algorithm that directs traffic lights at nodes with too large a traffic flow. As the vehicle approaches the intersection, the system will receive information about the number of vehicles as well as their direction. Based on the data collected, the media group with the same direction will receive the green light and be allowed to go while the lesser group will be red and wait.

Three-year test results show that virtual traffic lights reduce the travel time of urban residents during peak hours by 40 to 60 percent.

The project, which began in 2009, received $ 2 million in grants from private organizations and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.