2.

1 Introduction

Traffic signals are the most convenient method of controlling traffic in a busy junction.But,

we can see that these signals fail to control the traffic effectively when a particular lane has

got more traffic than the other lanes. This situation makes that particular lane more crowdy

than the other lanes. If the traffic signals can allot different time slots to different lanes

according to the traffic present in each lane, then, this problem can be solved easily.

2.2 The Basics of British Traffic Lights

The most basic traffic light consists of three bulbs with different coloured lenses, which from

top to bottom are red, amber and green. In the UK, the lights commonly use a sequence of

four phases:

1. Red— this indicates that traffic must stop behind the line. It is compulsory for all

road users to do so. Some traffic lights even have cameras to catch drivers breaking this

law.

2. Red and Amber— this combination of bulbs indicates that the lights are about to

change to green, and gives drivers time to release their handbrake and prepare to drive off

as soon as they are allowed to do so. This phase was first introduced in 1958.

3. Green— this indicates that traffic may pass through the junction, provided that it is

safe to do so and the way is clear. Some junctions are marked with a hash of yellow lines

forming a box, which indicates that drivers must not stop on the box unless they are turning

right and their exit is clear.

4. Amber— this warns traffic that it should stop unless it is unsafe to do so. In the UK

it is legal to pass through an amber light, as the phase exists to warn drivers not yet at the

junction that they will have to stop.

Traffic lights at junctions will always follow this pattern, with conflicting flows of traffic being

forced to take turns. Often the green bulb is replaced with two or more green arrows or

filter lights, which indicate that traffic turning left or right may go, while a red light remains

to instruct oncoming traffic to wait. It is now quite common for vehicles turning right to

have to wait for a separate filter light, even if the way is clear. Despite being relatively

simple, filter arrows are often 'mistaken' for an instruction to go by drivers who want to turn

a different way to that shown. Problems are also known to arise from motorists watching

the other lights at junctions and anticipating their own movement, and so shades are used

to hide the lights from both drivers and from the sun, which would reduce their visibility [1].

It is interesting to note that the UK is one of only a few countries not to have a 'left on red'

rule, where cars are allowed to pass through a red light if it is safe to turn left; in the UK,

red lights and filter lights must always be obeyed.A recent improvement in traffic light

technology has come with the development of red, amber and green light-emitting diodes

(LEDs). Arrays of these tiny bulbs can be used to replace the existing light bulbs in traffic

lights and are clearer and more energy-efficient. It is estimated that replacing all the traffic

light bulbs in the UK with LEDs would save enough energy to power the city of Norwich.

2.21 Pedestrian Crossings

Many junctions also have pedestrian crossings built into them, where red and green signals

in the shape of a walking (green) or standing (red) figure indicate to pedestrians whether it

is safe to cross. There is also a blank phase where both signals are unlit; indicating that it is

still safe to continue crossing but there is not enough time for the average 90-year-old to

make it in time if they start now. These crossings often have associated push-buttons for

use by pedestrians, but their only apparent action is to display the word WAIT in large,

friendly letters. Some of these boxes do, however, have a small knob underneath which

revolves when it is safe to cross, which can be useful for the visually impaired. It is
important to note that in the UK, although it is not illegal to jaywalk, doing so violates the

Highway Code and those responsible are liable for any resulting accident. Those using

pedestrian crossings on side roads have right of way over vehicles once they have begun to

cross [1].

A different sequence to the one mentioned above is used at pelican crossings, where the

crossing is not associated with a junction, but is designed purely to allow pedestrians to

cross busy roads. The push buttons at these crossings actually stop the traffic after a short

delay, and the green figure is often accompanied by a beeping sound. The red and amber

phase is replaced by a flashing one, indicating that drivers may continue if there are no

pedestrians on the crossing; at the same time the beeping stops and a flashing green figure

indicates to pedestrians still waiting to step out onto the crossing that they should wait for

the next green man signal to give them right of way. Pedestrians already on the crossing

should simply continue to the other side as normal.

Similar crossings are provided for cyclists (toucan crossings) and for horse riders (pegasus

crossings). These crossings sometimes feature red and green cycles or horses. Another

development on the theme of the pelican crossing is the puffin crossing, where a sensor

detects if there are pedestrians on the crossing, making the flashing phase used on pelican

crossings obsolete. These crossings do, however, cause confusion, as the red and green

men are sighted above the push button and not on the opposite side of the road. There are

some crossings that do not involve any coloured light sequences. The zebra crossing

features a pair of flashing amber Belisha Beacons, while badger crossings do not have any

lights at all.

Vehicle Detection Systems is either Inductive loops or sensors or Video detectionsystem.For

the last two decades most traffic lights at busy intersections and pedestrian crossings have

been controlled by ‘inductive loop’ sensors. Normally seen as dark square outlines on the
 road surface, they detect a passing vehicle by using a magnetic field to detect the metal

components in the passing vehicle. They then send information on location and speed to the

computer controlling the traffic signals.

The inductive loop system however has a number of important drawbacks, firstly is that

they are often easily damaged by road degradation, utility works or road maintenance and

secondly the need to close a section of road to install the system and its associated wiring,

both inevitably increasing costs and congestion.

Although the main purpose is to control traffic at junctions and to allow pedestrians to cross

safely, traffic lights are used in a variety of situations, including:

 Traffic control at road works, where pair of three-bulb traffic lights has replaced the

manual STOP/GO signs.

 Lights at level crossings and drawbridges, where a single steady amber light

precedes a pair of flashing red lights indicating that traffic must stop. These are also used to

allow emergency services vehicles out of depots on busy roads, and to allow animals to be

herded across main roads.

 Lane control on motorways, where white arrows instruct drivers to change lane or

leave the motorway, while red crosses indicate closed lanes.

 Lane control on busy roads where the middle lane is used by rush-hour traffic

heading one way in the morning and the other in the afternoon. Here, green arrows indicate

open lanes and red crosses indicate closed ones.