Call Ahead Concept can help you 'book a green light' at intersections

Waiting at traffic stops can be the most annoying part of the day for the urban commuter and studies have shown that it promotes impatience in drivers and increases the risk of road rage incidents as well. To help people avoid stopping at traffic signals, a University of Texas professor named Peter Stone has created a "call ahead" system that can help people “book” a “pass through” at an intersection. The associate professor of computer science claims that the system can potentially reduce collisions and avoid gridlock by allowing the approaching vehicles to reserve a green light at intersections.

Future transportation

Though the system sounds complicated, it really is not. Using the computer in the car, the driver communicates with the nearest intersection they are headed towards and gives it an estimated time of arrival. The computer at the intersection checks whether there is a slot open for the approaching inquirer and confirms and tells them to approach the lights with current speed or denies the booking with a warning that if the vehicle doesn’t slow down, they would themselves be responsible for the consequences.

The system tries to improve the existing system of traffic management since not all drivers travel at a given speed on the highways which results in jams and collisions. This system allows drivers to check whether the next intersection along their route has an open spot to let them safely pass through and could boost the efficiency of traffic and increase safety as well. The system is also boosted by the fact that most vehicles on the road today are fitted with navigation system that are linked to the internet and can be used by drivers on the highway to check whether they need to slow down at an upcoming intersection or whether they can continue traveling at existing speeds without risking a side-on collision.

Via: Discovery