We all know of the sensors just outside of an intersection that can help traffic lights allow traffic to flow more efficiently by knowing which lanes contain cars waiting at a red light. Why not use those same types of sensors in the middle of intersections to sense if there are cars currently in it, or coming towards it at a rate of speed that suggests they will run a red light. The sensor could tell the light to hold off on giving the other side green for a few seconds longer (thus keeping all red) to allow the intersection to clear of the unsafe drivers before normal traffic is allowed to flow again.
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In combination with a camera to nail the red light runner it seems a good idea.
This already exists ... http://www.multitel.be/acic/index.htm
Sure the technology already exists, its just not put to use like it should be. There is no immediate reaction to the people that run the red light that may prevent an accident. The cameras just track them and make sure they're ticketed later. I'm wanting the same technology to be used to make all four directions of traffic hold red for two or three seconds longer, closing the window of danger.
This is an outstanding idea!
It seems like a good idea to allow time to dump the traffic in an intersection before going to green. In fact, the yellow lights are supposed to allow that to happen already. Some people are either distracted or ignorant or both or view the yellow as a "hit the gas" light. It in fact means the same as red.
I doubt having extra red time would make intersections much safer from these people.