INTRODUCING

GREEN TRAFFIC SIGNALING SYSTEM

Having to waste your time by stopping and waiting until a signal changes when there is no traffic on the highway you want to enter, is bad enough; but when you consider the fuel you waste and your contribution to climate change; it is enough to make the best of us @#g^&YH9)%@.

Stopping and needlessly idling one's engine at an intersection wastes your fuel and your time and pumps pollutants into the air, which contributes to climate change.

Archaic timed signals as well as inefficient adaptive signal controls need to be replaced with an energy efficient signaling system that not only considers safety, but considers our national need for energy conservation, worker productivity and reduction of green house gases.

SPECIFICATIONS

Main Road Signals:  RED lamp on top, YELLOW lamps in middle and bottom, 3 lamps.

Side Road Signals: RED lamp on top, YELLOW lamp on bottom, 2 lamps.

Vehicle Detectors: Same as existing sensors, usually buried loops. Sensors only in side road.

Control Board: Simple microprocessor based board with new fuel saving control program.

Note: There are no GREEN lamps in the Green Traffic Signaling System.  The Green in the name refers to the energy efficient properties of the signaling system.  In the default condition all lamps flash for safety and to save energy.  However, the RED lamp pointing toward the main road must be on steady when a side road vehicle has waited more than a set time, without gaining access to the intersection.  When the alternating YELLOW lamps extinguish and the RED lamp goes on steady, then the side road flashing RED lamp extinguishes and the side road YELLOW lamp begins flashing, thereby notifying the side road driver that traffic has been stopped on the main road and that it is alright to proceed into the intersection with caution.

Because the system is designed to save energy and keep the responsibility for safety with the motorist; there is no need for a Green lamp in either the main road or the side road signal.  With the exception of the control function which is given to the side road sensors; this intersection functions similarly to a standard non-controlled intersection like one might see late at night, flashing RED toward a side road and flashing YELLOW toward a more heavily traveled main road.

Example #1: Assume no traffic on the main road and none on the side road. The main road's signal is flashing its YELLOW in the middle lamp and the side road's signal is flashing a RED in its top lamp. This is the default condition.

Example #2: If there is no traffic on the main road and a vehicle arrives at the side road of the intersection, the side road driver sees the flashing RED and stops. Since the main road is clear; the driver can immediately proceed into the intersection. If the main road is not clear the driver waits and the second YELLOW lamp in the main road signal begins flashing alternately with the first YELLOW lamp, notifying the main road driver that a vehicle is at the side road waiting for a clearing of the main road and that extra caution should be exercised. Depending on how far back from the intersection; the main road driver will see the two YELLOW lamps extinguish and the RED lamp come on steady (non flashing), as the side road driver leaves the detector field and enters the intersection. If more than one vehicle enters the intersection the main road lamp will continue as solid RED, otherwise it will revert to flashing a single YELLOW as the intersection clears.

Example #3: Assume the main road is clogged and a side road vehicle is requiring access after having waited for a set time. The two lamps alternately flashing YELLOW on the main road extinguish and the RED lamp comes on solid. When the main road's RED lamp comes on solid the side road's flashing RED lamp goes off and the YELLOW flashing lamp comes on. Which tells the side road driver that the main road signal is RED and that it is alright to go cautiously. If a single side road vehicle gains access and no other is at the side road, then the side road RED lamp resumes flashing and the main road RED lamp extinguishes and the single YELLOW lamp begins flashing. However, if there were more vehicles on the side road than can be served during a set time, then the side road's flashing YELLOW lamp will extinguish and the RED lamp will begin flashing . Meanwhile the main road signal will begin alternately flashing the two YELLOW lamps, notifying the main road drivers that there are still waiting vehicles on the side road and that while it is alright to proceed, extra care should be exercised.

It should be self evident that the GREEN TRAFFIC SIGNALING SYSTEM will never work less efficiently or less safe than either a simple timed signal or an existing adaptive controlled intersection.

WHY WE MUST HAVE

GREEN TRAFFIC SIGNALS

If we in the United States ever expect to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and do our part to alleviate climate change; then we must re-evaluate every aspect of our energy usage. Automobiles and trucks are responsible for the majority of our national oil budget as well as being largely responsible for our greenhouse gas emissions. Anything we can do to reduce petroleum usage makes our country more efficient, and secure and helps us reduce our negative international balance of payments. Additionally we will reduce our contribution to climate change and wasted time behind energy inefficient traffic signals. TIME IS MONEY and many of us need all the productive time we can find. The GREEN TRAFFIC SIGNAL largely eliminates wasted time at many intersections and yet will not compromise safety.

It is time to stop wasting fuel and time, reduce air pollution and begin looking for new ways to save energy.

It is time for the GREEN TRAFFIC SIGNALING SYSTEM.

PATENT APPLIED FOR

(336) 246-5143