As autonomous vehicles (AVs) become more common on roads worldwide, researchers from North Carolina State University (NC State) have proposed an addition to traditional traffic lights: a “white light.”
This new light, which is suppose to only activated when AVs approach intersections, could transform traffic management by reducing delays and fuel consumption, according to a study published in IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems.
How it might works
The study suggests that the “white phase” will help AVs to communicate wirelessly with each other and traffic lights. “When a sufficient number of AVs approach an intersection, the white light activates, allowing AVs to coordinate movements autonomously. Human-driven vehicles would simply follow the car in front of them during this phase. When AVs are scarce, the traffic system reverts to the standard red, yellow, and green signals,” the paper said.
“This concept we’re proposing for traffic intersections, which we call a ‘white phase,’ taps into the computing power of autonomous vehicles,” said Associate Professor Ali Hajbabaie, lead author of the study.
While the colour of the white light itself isn’t significant, its presence provides human drivers with a clear visual cue, ensuring they know what actions to take.
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Significant benefits
Simulations conducted by NC State researchers revealed that the white phase improves traffic flow significantly.
“When 10% of vehicles are autonomous, delays are reduced by 3%. At 30%, delays drop by 10.7%,” Hajbabaie noted. As AV on the roads increases, the benefits compound, with total delays dropping by up to 94% in certain conditions.
Fuel consumption also decreased, thanks to fewer stop-and-go movements, offering environmental benefits.
Distributed computing enhancements
The study also introduced an improvement to earlier concepts of the white phase. Rather than relying on centralised computing, the new approach would use distributed computing, with AVs themselves making collective decisions about traffic flow.
“This is both more efficient and less prone to communication failures,” Hajbabaie explained.
Future implementation possibilities
Although widespread adoption of the white phase remains a distant goal, researchers believe it could first be tested in specific settings, such as ports where commercial vehicle traffic is high.
“Commercial vehicles are adopting autonomous technologies at faster rates. Ports, where traffic flow is critical, could benefit from pilot projects testing this system,” said Hajbabaie.
The paper, co-authored by Ramin Niroumand, a PhD student, and Assistant Professor Leila Hajibabai, highlights the potential for the adoption, enabling governments and vehicle manufacturers to gradually integrate the system.
For now, the white phase remains a vision for the future, but its potential to transform intersections underscores the promise of AVs in revolutionising global transport systems – perhaps one day including South Africa’s own bustling urban centres.
