(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Researchers in Indiana say they’ve come up with a way to use wireless technology to reduce the number of injuries and deaths at high-speed intersections.
Purdue University and Indiana Department of Transportation researchers concentrated on what’s called the “dilemma zone” — that time after a traffic signal has turned to yellow. This is when it may be too late to try and stop, but going through the intersection will almost certainly lead to a crash.
INDOT signal systems field engineer Tom Platte said equipping large vehicles such as semi-trailers with transmitters could be a solution. Wireless systems could determine how fast they were going and give them a yellow light earlier so that they have time to safely stop. Or, the systems could give them a longer green light.
“We’re detecting vehicles much farther away than existing technology and, once we integrate some of the newer communication, like 5G, we would assume that would get even better,” Platte said.
Federal safety officials say there are 2 million crashes a year at intersections with traffic signals, resulting in more than 3,000 deaths and hundreds of thousands of injuries.
Platte says the new system would need support from trucking companies. He said he’s sure the new system could save lives and reduce the number of injuries.
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