VEHICLE STARTING CHARACTERISTICS ON COUNTDOWN TRAFFIC LIGHTS WITH SEVERAL SIGNAL DESIGNS AND MICROSCOPIC ANALYSIS

Abstract

 In this research, we microscopically analyzed the vehicle starting characteristics based on the with or without of the remaining time indication until the traffic signal turns to green under the observation surveys at real intersections and the driving experiments on virtual roads. We also tried nine remaining time indication designs and considered the optimum design that can promote vehicles starting safety and smoothly. Since it becomes easy to understand the timing of starting and possible to adjust the acceleration and deceleration at the time of starting by indicating the remaining time, the startup delay and significant premature start decreased. The remaining time indication designs by numbers are useful for not only leaving vehicles but also following vehicles to start faster.