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Title:

Effect of Countdown Timers on Traffic Characteristics and Driver Behaviors at Signalized Intersections

Accession Number:

01594095

Record Type:

Component

Abstract:

Signal countdown timers are being installed adjacent to the traffic signal heads at major signalized intersections in India. These timers display the seconds remaining for a particular signal phase to the drivers and expected to help them with a better decision making process. Conflicting results have been obtained by researchers across the world regarding timers’ effect on the efficiency and safety potential at signalized intersection locations. Therefore, the present study tried to assess the influence of timers on several traffic characteristics and driver behaviors by collecting data from three signalized intersection locations in New Delhi. Total of three different approaches were studied both in the presence and absence of timers. It was found that the timers did not influence saturation flow, but they helped reducing the start-up lost time significantly. Percentage of cycles with red light violations (RLVs) and mean RLV per RLV cycle increased in the presence of timer during the last 10 seconds of red phase, but different effect was observed for RLVs that took place during the initial 10 seconds of red. Drivers started moving from their position during the final stage of red phase resulting in more number of violations during timer on scenario. On the other hand, timers assisted drivers make better decision regarding stopping or crossing the intersections at the end of green, thus reducing violations during the initial stage of red phase. Timer off scenario enlarged total ranges of both Type I and II dilemma zones at the onset of yellow and brought Type II dilemma zone earlier.

Supplemental Notes:

This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AHB50 Standing Committee on Traffic Control Devices.

Monograph Accession #:

01584066

Report/Paper Numbers:

16-5771

Language:

English

Corporate Authors:

Transportation Research Board

500 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001 United States

Authors:

Biswas, Sabyasachi
Ghosh, Indrajit
Chandra, Satish

Pagination:

14p

Publication Date:

2016

Conference:

Transportation Research Board 95th Annual Meeting

Location: Washington DC, United States
Date: 2016-1-10 to 2016-1-14
Sponsors: Transportation Research Board

Media Type:

Digital/other

Features:

Figures; References; Tables

Geographic Terms:

New Delhi (India)

Subject Areas:

Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors

Source Data:

Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting 2016 Paper #16-5771

Files:

TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Created Date:

Jan 12 2016 6:32PM