Traffic lights change color according to situation

An auto traffic light system that turns green when there are many cars in long queues will help reduce traffic congestion.

(Photo: ABC Online) Unlike conventional lighting system is controlled from a central computer, these lights will coordinate the traffic flow by automatic operation.

Seung-Bae Cools, of the University of Vrije in Belgium and his colleagues, said traffic control optimizes traffic, reduces congestion, and shortens the driver's waiting time.

Normally, the green light is synchronized as a green wave so that vehicles can travel smoothly through the main roads in the city without any red light. The speed of the green light will be adjusted to match the speed of the road.

But if the green wave is maintained regardless of traffic conditions, it will cause problems. When traffic density is too big, cars will have to wait for each other when going through the green light. And once one gets lost, it will have to wait for the whole process of red lights to get involved in the next green wave.

Most modern traffic control systems rely on a central computer to help optimize the flow of traffic. But Belgian researchers have developed a system based on self-organizing traffic lights. They say the system relies entirely on the interaction of cars and traffic lights to create the right kind of green wave.

At each latch, there will be a counter from 0 every time the lights turn red and will count the number of cars waiting at that point. " If more cars are coming in or waiting for a red light, the lights will turn green faster, compared to just a few ."

The researchers said the system could significantly improve traffic flow and that they had successfully tested the simulation system.

But researchers at the Australian Intelligent Transportation Systems Organization do not believe the system will perform better than traditional methods. Researchers say the best way is to limit the amount of cars that are in circulation. Biking, walking or public transport will be an effective alternative.

MT