Title: Driver Response to a Fully Actuated Advance Warning of End of Green System
Abstract: The Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) developed the Advance Warning of End of Green System (AWEGS) for the Texas Department of Transportation to improve safety on high speed approaches of signalized intersections. AWEGS provides advance warning to motorists using roadside/overhead signs. These signs (BE PREPARED TO STOP WHEN FLASHING) have LED beacons that flash about 4 -6 seconds before the onset of yellow for the high speed approaches. Similar systems have been implemented in Canada and in a few states in the US. However, AWEGS functions almost completely independent of the traffic signal controller and hence the signal controller continues to provide dilemma zone protection that it was designed for. The system has been deployed at four locations in Texas and evaluations studies illustrated a reduction in red-light-running of over 40%. Four more of these systems are being implemented in Texas. The success of these systems depends on the motorists observing the warning sign, understanding the message, and responding appropriately to the sign. A subsequent research project developed guidelines for the use of overhead signs to improve sign visibility. The flashing pattern in the beacons was also modified to a mode called “stutter flash” to increase the sign target value. The driver response to the system was then monitored by obtaining speed profiles of vehicles approaching the intersection and correlating the speed profiles to the status of the beacons on the warning sign as well as the status of the traffic signal. A statistical analysis was conducted to illustrate the motorist response. This paper will present the results of the analysis to document the motorist response to the AWEGS.
Publication Year: 2008
Publication Date: 2008-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
Access and Citation
AI Researcher Chatbot
Get quick answers to your questions about the article from our AI researcher chatbot