Countdown Signal Heads For Vehicles

Outlines zProblem Statement zHypothesis  What are the benefits of the countdown timer?  How would the countdown timer enhance safety ? zPossible Implementations  Two types of Countdown Timer Signals  Comparing the two types of the Countdown Timers zDiscussion  Would this encourage drivers to speed up and cause even more accidents?  Day time and night time  Other issues..

Problem Statement z Crash analysis show that a high percentage of crashes, injuries and fatalities for Drivers, Cyclist and Pedestrians occur at busy traffic intersections specially the Rear End and Angle type crashes. y Example: US Wake Forest Road. 325 Crashes for the past three years, 118 crashes is Rear End, and 84 is Angle type. y The percentage of rear end and angle crashes for Wake County for the past three years is 35.42% and 14.36% respectively.

Problem Statement z The hesitation that every one of us experience, whenever we approach an intersection while the yellow light is on, is a major factor in these fatal collisions. (Should I pass or stop?)

Hypothesis zCountdown signals for vehicles would: y Enhance safety at high risk intersections by reducing angle and rear end type crashes. y Studies show that pedestrian countdown signals enhanced safety at crosswalks. y Reduce the amount of lost time for each cycle by reducing the all-red time, and therefore increase capacity.

How does the Countdown Timer enhances safety? zCountdown signals would provide visual information and guidance to drivers regarding the amount of time remaining to safely cross an intersection. zAttracts drivers’ attention to the yellow light by visualizing, rather than guessing, how many seconds left for them to slow down and stop safely before the red light turns on. z Caution aggressive drivers while approaching an intersection to slow down when they see a timer instead of a solid yellow light. That would reduce red light runner drivers.

Two Types of Countdown Signals zCountdown signal head as a separate unit. zCountdown timer inside the yellow circular ball.

First Proposed Implementation yCountdown signal head as a separate unit. yInstalled as a rectangular screen that can display big enough digital numbers. yIt works along with the yellow light interval. yThis can cost around $1000 plus maintenance

Second Proposed Implementation yCountdown signal timer will display digital yellow color number surrounded with a yellow circular boundary. yThree options for the possibility of what time interval can these numbers represents: xEach number can represent one second interval. xEach number can represent increment of a second like each digital number can represent half second period or each two numbers is equal to one second interval. xEach number can represent two seconds intervals.

Comparing the two types of Countdown Timers z Numbers will be much smaller and hard to read from a distance, however the first couple drivers approaching the intersection will be able to read them. z Costs less, as we are only improving the traffic controller itself and maintenance will be the same as the present controller. z Easy to understand for most drivers. z Still following the MUTDC regulations by keeping the circular yellow shape light. zNumbers are big enough to read from a distance. zCosts more (Installation and maintenance). zmaybe hard for some drivers to find the correlation between the timer and the yellow light. zIf the timer shuts down for any reason we still have the signal working but if both were shut down so that can happen even without timer installed. The rectangular screen installed above the traffic signal. Improving the solid yellow light to circular boundary with numbers in the middle.

Discussions zFirst we are not talking here about the drivers who would want to break the law anyway whether there is countdown timer or not. zA considerable portion of drivers in the dilemma zone will proceed when they observe the traffic signal changing to red. (High speed, Low reaction time, variable deceleration rate). zWorst case scenario; yAn aggressive driver approaching intersection while yellow timer is on yTimer just changed from two to one yDriver is in the dilemma zone, pressed on gas trying to speed up and cross the intersection before it turns red yHe thinks that he has only one second left yIn reality he has two seconds to pass the stop bar and cross the intersection plus 2 second of all red time….. zCan you think about a worse case scenario? Would this encourage drivers to speed up and cause even more accidents?

Discussions Day time and night time zWe can program the timer for a daytime and a night time setting. From 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM the solid yellow light can be displayed instead of the numbers. How do think this timer will be effective at night time when visibility is much less and numbers could be hard to read?

Questions that might come across our minds zWhat if a truck blocked the view and the driver behind the truck is no able to see the timer?  can happen in both cases timer or no timer. zWhat if the people get used to see the timer and the timer shut down for some time?  stop sign as usual zWhat attracts you more regular sign on highway or digital screen that displays the speed limit?  not sure. But according to some drivers I surveyed, they stated that it is very helpful to know when the green light will turn on after the pedestrian countdown is off, and therefore they though that countdown timers for vehicles would be as useful.

Thank you for your time and attention..