Traffic-Light-Detector

Reduce traffic congestion effects due to human reaction times at intersections with traffic lights by utilizing a computer system based on direct communication method of changes in the circumscribed route intersection.

Motivation for the project:

As civilisation develops, it develops coherent, large-scale socio-economic formations that contribute to the development of well-being and the concomitant development of conurbation. The market demand for infrastructure motivates individuals to privatise their vehicles, which, in turn, rapidly increases the accident rate. A scientific study entitled "Accident analysis & prevention"¹ (2.5) indicates that there is a statistically significant observation between the potential of a road user and prior involvement in an accident, as well as an observable characteristic: following the direction of a high-flow motorway, defined as the time between the subject and the subject's vehicles.

Based on research, it can be hypothesised that reducing the likelihood of first-time accidents has a more significant effect on road safety than developing systems to improve the safety habits of drivers involved in accidents. With this assumption, the problem of eliminating the impact of human reaction time on the realisation of traffic congestion can be defined as a motivated project by applying computer solutions based on the direct communication methodology of the intersection changes, on a route section equipped with a traffic signal traffic regulator.

Furthermore, studies such as "In-depth investigations of PTW-car accidents caused by human errors (Moto-Auto)"² indicate that in different traffic intersection configurations, a statistical predominance of frontal collisions, more precisely around 45%, is observed in 1/9 of the collision types (frontal collisions) in 60% of the configurations.

Road accidents also represent a share of society's costs, or more precisely, costs can be broken down into several categorisations - by the number of people involved, by the type of cost, by the impact of the accident on lives. A study on the cost of traffic accidents, "The cost of traffic accident and equivalent accident number (Case study in developing country - Indonesia)"³ estimates the cost of a single fatal accident in all categories at around 17 869,19 €, which justifies the monetary motivation and commercial potential of the solution.

There are several reasons, as mentioned in the scientific study "Traffic conflict standards for intersections"⁴, why an intersection may be categorised as a high hazard area in a delineated format. Firstly, a segment where different groups of road users overlap, more specifically different types of vehicles, including private and commercial, as well as pedestrians converging from several directions can make it difficult for drivers to anticipate the actions of other road users, increasing the potential for collisions. Secondly, intersections have a number of hierarchical and complex traffic control systems, such as signs, traffic signals and traffic regulators, which allow for the possibility of inaccurate interpretation of the situation. Finally, intersections are characterised by distracted drivers, for example, looking for a turn, trying to read signs or understand the traffic, listening to music on a mobile device or having a conversation, which increases the likelihood of an accident.

Providing drivers with direct communication of intersection changes is important, based on the "Situational Awareness and Safety"⁵ study , as it contributes to smooth and efficient traffic movement. If drivers are unsure about a traffic light, they may hesitate or stop unnecessarily, which can cause congestion and delays. In addition, providing a direct method of informing drivers of green lights can help prevent accidents and improve overall road safety. By providing clear and concise information to drivers, we can help ensure that traffic flows smoothly and that everyone on the road can get to their destination safely.

Since the judgement that reducing the likelihood of first-time accidents has a significant effect on the safety of road users can be put forward reasonably and as a leading reason points to the fact that the realisation of traffic congestion increases the potential for accidents and that traffic conflicts exist with a particularly increased likelihood at intersections, the following position can be put forward, that a statistically tested hypothesis on the correlation of traffic congestion on traffic accidents in studies such as the "Current Understanding of the Effects of Congestion on Traffic Accidents"⁶ justifies the relevance of the project to the wider community and points to the need for an adapted, modular solution.

Existing solutions:

The motivation and potential solutions for the project were also presented in different formats of existing solutions. Each solution described offers a different format of user interface, practical application and results.

Tesla's "Traffic Light and Stop Sign Control"⁷ provides direct information to the user on the status of the traffic light controller and adjusts the response of the vehicle, more specifically, if the vehicle is analytically detected as unable to manoeuvre within the time allowed by the controller, the control system will reduce speed and stop the vehicle at the first permissible position according to the controller's conditions. The solution offers efficient and optimal functionality with extensive technical support and a clear and easy to use user interface. The most significant drawback of the solution offered by Tesla is the limited vehicle support of the control system, more precisely, the system is only available for Tesla cars equipped with the required sensors.

Audi's "Traffic-light countdown system"⁸, described by the journalism company Engadget, proposes and offers to provide the user directly with a countdown system, more precisely a period of time during which the traffic-light traffic regulator will remain the same or change to another state. The solution proposed by Audi offers a user-friendly and comprehensible user interface, including a format in which the driver's attention can be easily and in an informed way focused on the changes in traffic. The most significant drawback of the proposed solution is the need to equip all traffic light controllers and cars with sensors and to develop a communication network, and the fact that Audi only offers the technology for Audi cars at the moment.

Solution description:

In response to the problem described in the motivation, the authors considered a solution that eliminates the impact of human reaction time on the realisation of traffic congestion, using a computer system based on a direct gated intersection change communication methodology, on a route section equipped with a traffic signal traffic controller.

The authors propose to develop a small, easily transportable and modular device, the basic principle of which is to use sensors embedded in the device to detect the position of the traffic signal traffic controller corresponding to the position of the vehicle at an intersection and to inform the driver when the signal is detected, according to the expected signal - permission to continue the route.

The proposed solution consists of 4 basic principles that eliminate the impact of human reaction time on the realisation of traffic congestion:

• The modular device shall be equipped in its basic configuration with a visual image sensor which, according to the instructions for use integral to the device, is positioned parallel to the direction of movement of the vehicle, which provides continuous low-quality image documentation for the purpose of determining whether the vehicle has reached a traffic intersection.
• When the device detects a vehicle approaching a traffic intersection using an image recognition model, it increases the quality of the captured images and identifies the traffic signal traffic regulators and their positions.
• The identified regulators and their states are summarised to determine the appropriate regulator for the vehicle route.
• Using the information obtained, the device analyses the situation: if the controller is observed with the signal "OK to proceed" and the vehicle has not stopped, it does not inform, whereas if the controller is observed with the signal "Not OK to proceed" and the vehicle has slowed down or stopped, the device informs the driver of the signal change when the signal "OK to proceed" is received, using the basic module for the audible signal or the optional light and other user interfaces formats.

The device described uses the following to provide the basic principles and functionality:

• Raspberry Pi 4 microcontroller - Raspberry Pi 4
• Raspberry Pi high quality modular camera - Sony IMX477

The device can be upgraded by adding:

• [Potential upgrades here]

A basic package is offered for system communication and user information, which includes an audible signal that plays and informs the driver of the need to concentrate on the route process, as well as on the surrounding cars, which the device plays when a signal is received from the traffic signal traffic controller to allow the route to proceed.

As the system provides a direct form of communication about the actual changes in the route of the vehicle on the section of the route equipped with the light-signalling traffic controller, it does not store the collected data in the long term and deletes the data after processing the captured route visualisations, saving and updating the vehicle situation, therefore the solution proposed by the authors ensures complete security of the user's data.