Do We Need Yellow Light Warnings?

Tue, 4/17/2018 - 7:56 pm by Kirsten Rincon

Yellow Light Warning When a driver approaches a signalized intersection, and notices that the light has turned yellow, he or she will need to decide whether to brake or continue driving through the intersection. The space between the beginning of an intersection and the point on the road where it’s no longer safe to stop is known as a “dilemma zone”. A lot of accidents occur in dilemma zones, since the driver’s choice can cause serious traffic problems. Drivers have three options at their disposal: they can continue through the intersection at the same speed, hit the brakes and try and come to a full stop, or accelerate so that they pass the intersection before the light changes.

The Dilemma

If a driver chooses to brake abruptly, there is a risk of getting hit by the car behind them. If they hit the gas pedal and try and drive through the intersection while the light is still yellow, the driver may receive a ticket for speeding or running a red light. Finally, if they continue driving at the same speed, they risk getting hit by oncoming traffic.

Do we Need Another Traffic Warning?

Because of these accidents, traffic engineers have been trying to come up with a solution that would increase safety in dilemma zones and reduce intersection-related crashes. A group of researchers from a few universities, in collaborations with the Federal Highway Administration, have concluded that intelligent warning systems can help drivers make the right decision during a yellow phase. They have conducted a couple of studies using driving simulators, in efforts to determine how effective different roadway and in-car warning systems are. They think that drivers should receive some sort of warning before the light turns yellow.

Effectiveness

The studies showed that drivers tend to slow down and stop at a traffic light when they receive a timely warning that a light is about to turn yellow. When a driver is warned ahead of time, he/she knows that there won’t be enough time to make the green light, so they can start decelerating slowly and stop.

“Sometimes drivers respond to safety measures in ways that undo safety benefits, such as driving faster when using antilock brakes,” said Leo Gugerty, professor of psychology at Clemson University, and one of the researchers who conducted the study, and added: “However, the drivers in our simulator studies responded to the dilemma zone warning signals by driving more safely.”

One of the potential solutions for safer dilemma zones is installing a signal pole at the side of the road that flashes a warning light before the green light changes to yellow. Another idea that they tested included a series of signal poles that flashed lights in sequence as drivers approached the traffic light. They also wanted to see how drivers react to a warning light that appears on an LCD display on the car’s dashboard, followed by a beep.

These tests showed that no matter whether it’s an in-vehicle or a roadway warning, it helps make drivers more cautious and prevents aggressive driving. However, installing such warning systems may be too expensive, or simply not feasible in some areas, which is why some experts suggest extending the length of the yellow light, as a more affordable and simple solution.

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