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Technion researchers have developed a facility designed to improve safety at intersections

A computerized facility will be installed at an intersection in Tel Aviv and will help drivers make the right decisions

A team of researchers at the Transportation Research Institute at the Technion, led by Prof. David Mehlal, developed a facility designed to help drivers make the right decisions at intersections. The facility is designed to raise the level of vigilance of the driver approaching an unsignalized intersection. In situations where a risk is created and a traffic accident may happen, the facility creates an alert for the driver.
 "This is a smart sign for an unmarked intersection," explains Dr. Yotam Abramson, who developed the method. "We place two cameras on a pole at the intersection, one facing the main road and one facing the secondary road. Below them is installed a computer that constantly processes the data it receives from the cameras. When it detects a risk of collision, it activates flashing lights on two 'give right of way' signs placed at the intersection. The flashing is intended to increase the vigilance of drivers approaching it."
The researcher adds that accidents at an unsignalized intersection can be caused in two situations: when the driver on the secondary road does not notice the sign and does not know that he does not have the right of way, or when he notices the sign but does not correctly process information from the intersection. "In both cases, the driver makes the wrong decision," emphasizes Dr. Abramson. "The assumption is that the flashing means will draw the driver's attention to the road sign and increase his level of vigilance."
The intersection chosen for the experiment - Raines-Esther Hamalka in Tel Aviv - is an urban intersection characterized by limited visibility and high access speed on the main road. The intersection has four arms that are similar in cross section. At these intersections, the driver does not have an intuitive understanding of the priority regime, so distinguishing the traffic lights is extremely essential.
At the end of the technical part of the experiment, the situation at the intersection with and without the facility will be analyzed. The researchers hope that the facility will reduce accidents and "near misses" at the intersection, without affecting the flow of traffic on the main road.
In the future, the Technion researchers hope to install another development of theirs, a "smart traffic light" that comes into action when it detects a driver about to cross the intersection at a red light, either by flashing or by rejecting the green light in the other direction. "Such a system will also be used as an enforcement camera," emphasizes Dr. Abramson. "A driver who was about to cross the intersection with a red light and caused the green light to be rejected in the other direction, will be considered to have crossed a red light and will be punished accordingly."
"The research is part of the trend of the Transportation Research Institute to develop in the field of advanced transportation (ITS)," says Prof. David Mahalal, head of the institute. "As part of this trend, we carry out various studies aimed at developing "smart infrastructures" that combine computing and mechanization in transportation systems. The research is funded by the National Road Safety Authority and with the assistance of the Traffic Department of the Tel Aviv Municipality. 

 

2 תגובות

  1. I developed a method that combines a round square with a traffic light and several other components based on the existing traffic laws.
    When the method is registered as a patent it will be disclosed.
    Simulation tests we conducted proved that the capacity of the intersection has increased by about 15% and the accidents at this type of intersection are aiming for zero.

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