Safety Effect of Traffic Signal Prediction Systems

Abstract

The development of automated driving technology has been gaining momentum in recent years. Some of the technologies receiving attention involve using a communications system to get information on hazards in blind spots that are hard for the vehicle’s autonomous sensors to detect, or to get advance traffic signal information. Traffic Signal Prediction Systems (TSPS) are one kind of system using such communications technology. Field operation tests were carried out on public roads in 2014-2015 to bring these systems closer to practical application. The tests suggested the number of traffic accidents would decline with the implementation of TSPS, since vehicles would come to a “slow stop” more often and encounter the dilemma zone less often. The tests and traffic flow simulation also indicated that this would have little effect on travel time. There was also concern that advising drivers to release the accelerator while the light was still green would increase the incidence of acceleration to try to get through the intersection before the green light ends. As the system was used, however, it was confirmed that the operation decreased. From the questionnaire to those who participated in this tests, this system was evaluated that information support is easy to understand and is a useful