Towards a fourth color for the red light ? The creation of a “white light” envisaged, we explain why

La proposition innovation de ces chercheurs pourrait fluidifier la circulation (photo d’illustration). Tsvetoslav Hristov – UNSPLASH

Des chercheurs américains proposent d’ajouter une quatrième couleur aux feux de signalisation. Cette innovation pourrait fluidifier la circulation.

Could the traditional traffic light change one day?? This is in any case the bold proposal from researchers at NC State University, according to AutoPlus.

According to this team of American researchers, the addition of a fourth color, white, could help improve communication with autonomous cars. The study by these scientists was published in February 2023.

What does white light mean?

"The White Phase concept also incorporates a new traffic signal, so human drivers know what they are supposed to do. Red lights always mean “stop”. Green lights always mean “move forward”. As for the white lights, they will indicate to human drivers that they must simply follow the car in front of them", details the study.

In fact, autonomous vehicles would be in "communication" with other cars located in different locations of the intersection as well as with the traffic lights. The white light would only activate in the presence of autonomous cars, to allow them to pass in certain cases.

How does it work??

"Vehicles driven by a person would simply be required to follow the vehicle in front of them: if the vehicle in front of them stops, they stop; if the vehicle in front of them crosses the intersection, they cross the intersection", can be read in the American researchers' document.

What are the benefits?

The rest of the time, without the presence of autonomous cars, the intersection would operate in the traditional way.

This innovation would reduce travel time by 3%, streamline traffic and thus reduce CO2 emissions, report our colleagues.