Optimal Signal-timing Solution Based on Dividing Vehicle Flows

Abstract

Compared with traditional approaches that adjust traffic signals according to vehicle volumes, the proposed solution divides the vehicles running on the key route into several flows. Each flow that moves with a designed speed is regarded as an vehicle group. When individual vehicle flow reaches a traffic signal, the green light ensures all the vehicles in the group smoothly passing the intersection. After that, the signal turns to red light and let the vehicles on the crossed-direction pass the intersection before the arrival of the next vehicle flow. The vehicles in the designed flow can avoid all the red lights and do not need to stop on halfway, their speed can almost be doubled. The paper presents vehicle flow division, the rules of safe driving and the signal-timing. The feasibility and advantages of the approach are also illustrated by an experiment.