Researchers at North Carolina State University are proposing an additional white traffic light that would signal to drivers autonomous vehicles are managing the upcoming intersection of traffic flow intelligently. The thinking is that both traffic congestion levels and overall fuel consumption could be reduced.
Here's how it would work: autonomous vehicles would be in communication with each other and with the traffic lights at intersections, within a certain range. That would enable them to coordinate traffic flow more efficiently and intelligently – giving priority to the converging roads with more vehicles on them, for example, and advising on optimal speeds.
In simulated models, AVs were shown to improve traffic flow on their own, and even more so when the white phase was introduced – which then has positive effects on reducing fuel consumption. The higher the percentage of AVs at an intersection, the faster the traffic moved, with improvements of about 40 to 99 percent in terms of total delay reductions possible.
Flashing blue means leave your vehicle and seek high ground tsunami is incoming!!
How nice. Follow the car in front, light turns red, smile you're on candid camera! $100 fine.