Brainy Traffic Intersection – Driving Made Safer

Safety of a car’s occupants is paramount, and automotive accessories like airbags and seat belts, have effectively saved numerous lives. Despite the fact that driving wisely is a precondition to a safe journey, newer safety devices are slowly taking over the responsibility from humans.

Recently, a “smart intersection,” was showcased by the researchers at the Ford’s Research & Innovation Center. The system is a step in the direction of using GPS technology and wireless infrastructure-to-vehicle communications to avert car crashes and to help in preventing traffic jams.

The Smart Intersection

The system comprises electronic technology that monitors traffic signal status, data from Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and digital maps. After which it transmits the information to automobiles.

At the drivers’ end, advanced safety equipment is installed that sounds an alert (audio/visual) to the driver when he’s about to encounter a dangerous situation on the road. For instance, the driver would be cautioned, if the car’s about to rush through a red light, which can be fatal.

What data is exchanged?

The brainy intersection is able to generate and transmit several different types of data to the vehicles. Some of these include digital map of the intersection, another six maps of the area surrounding the stop sign crosswalks and intersections, precise location by using lane-specific GPS, and of course the status whether the signal is red or green and its timing. Once this data is transmitted, the vehicle’s own collision avoidance system processes it to decide whether to act or not.

Importance Of The Technology

A focus on intersections is crucial because research reveals that about 40 percent of all accidents occur at intersections. Further, 20 percent of all who die in fatal crashes are killed at intersections.

Intersections are a fact or roads and they are here to stay, along with the danger they pose. What’s more eye-opening is the fact that based on projections of the U.S. National Intelligence Council, about 66 percent of population would inhabit city regions by 2015, which would be twice as large as today’s figures. Hence systems such as these should pave the way for safer transport.

Automobile safety devices have come a long way from seat belts to the sophisticated devices such as anti-lock braking systems, to “Airbags With Ears!” Still, there’s the challenge for a lot of new age technologies to be successfully implemented, and fast too.