Impact of Traffic Signal Countdown Displays on Driver Behaviors

Traffic signals with countdown display have been widely used at signalized intersections. The main purpose of traffic signals with countdown display is to provide drivers with a countdown timing that would help them make informed stopping/crossing decisions during the critical phase-change period. Reflecting the human-oriented principle, nevertheless, the inconsistency between traffic efficiency and safety should be taken into account. This research focuses on the driver behaviors affected by red-light countdown displays and green-light countdown displays. By means of camera data collection and data analysis, driving behavior affected by using countdown display and not using countdown display at signalized intersection was compared in this paper in a driver's view, and the safeties at signalized intersections with countdown display were analyzed. The finding indicated that the countdown display significant affected the driver's decision making. The red-running violations were reduced when countdown display at signalized intersection was not used, but the start-up delay increased. So the timing signal should be installed cautiously.

• Record URL:
  • https://doi.org/10.1061/41039(345)688
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/9780784410394
• Supplemental Notes:
  • © 2009 American Society of Civil Engineers.
• Corporate Authors:

  American Society of Civil Engineers

  1801 Alexander Bell Drive
  Reston, VA  United States  20191-4400
• Authors:
  • Yuan, Li
  • Zhang, Qing
  • Lei, Zhiyi
• Conference:
  • Second International Conference on Transportation Engineering
  • Location: Chengdu , China
  • Date: 2009-7-25 to 2009-7-27
• Publication Date: 2009-7

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Features: References;
• Pagination: pp 4176-4179
• Monograph Title: International Conference on Transportation Engineering 2009

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Behavior; Drivers; Signalized intersections; Traffic safety; Traffic signal cycle; Traffic signals
• Uncontrolled Terms: Countdown traffic signals
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01535982
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 9780784410394
• Files: TRIS, ASCE
• Created Date: Aug 27 2014 10:54AM