Traffic control system and method for operating same
A method of operating an intersection traffic signal includes operating the intersection traffic signal based on a standard signal pattern, determining an adverse road condition on a road surface adjacent an intersection, and determining when a first vehicle on the road surface is within a predetermined distance of the intersection. A signal time period is adjusted for the intersection traffic signal when the adverse road condition is present and the first vehicle is within a predetermined distance of the intersection.
1. A method of operating an intersection traffic signal, the method comprising:
operating the intersection traffic signal based on a standard signal pattern;
determining an adverse road condition on a road surface adjacent an intersection, wherein determining if the adverse road condition is present includes monitoring at least one of a road surface condition adjacent the intersection with at least one sensor or receiving a wheel slippage signal from the first vehicle;
determining when a first vehicle on the road surface is within a predetermined distance of the intersection; and
adjusting a signal time period for the intersection traffic signal when the adverse road condition is present and the first vehicle is within a predetermined distance of the intersection.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein adjusting the signal time period for the intersection signal includes extending a cautionary signal time period.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein adjusting the cautionary signal time period occurs after a predetermined lapsed time for a go signal of the intersection traffic signal for the first vehicle.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein adjusting the signal time period for the intersection traffic signal maintains a constant overall signal period of the intersection traffic signal for the first vehicle.
5. The method of claim 1 , including determining a speed of the first vehicle approaching the intersection.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein adjusting the signal time period for the intersection traffic signal when a speed of the first vehicle is above a predetermined speed threshold and within the predetermined distance of the intersection.
7. The method of claim 1 , determining if a second vehicle is present in cross traffic at the intersection traffic signal.
8. The method of claim 7 , including determining if the second vehicle is located within a predetermined distance of the intersection.
9. The method of claim 7 , including signaling a display on the second vehicle when the adverse road condition is present and the first vehicle is within a predetermined distance of the intersection.
10. The method of claim 7 , wherein adjusting the signal time period for the intersection traffic signal includes extending a cautionary signal time period and reducing a go signal time period for the first vehicle.
11. The method of claim 1 , including returning to the standard signal pattern when the first vehicle has passed through the intersection.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining if the adverse road condition is present includes monitoring the road surface adjacent the intersection with at least one sensor.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the at least one sensor includes at least one of a video camera, rain sensor, or temperature sensor.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein determining when the first vehicle on the road surface is within the predetermined distance of the intersection includes utilizing at least one of a video camera, radar, lidar, or an inductance sensor.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining if the adverse road condition is present includes receiving a wheel slippage signal from the first vehicle.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the wheel slippage signal received from the first vehicle originates from at least one wheel speed sensor in the first vehicle.
17. A traffic signal controller comprising:
a processor in communication with memory and configured to operate an intersection traffic signal with a method comprising:
operating the intersection traffic signal based on a standard signal pattern;
determining an adverse road condition on a road surface adjacent an intersection, wherein determining if the adverse road condition is present includes monitoring at least one of a road surface condition adjacent the intersection traffic signal with at least one sensor or receiving a wheel slippage signal from the first vehicle;
determining when a first vehicle on the road surface is within a predetermined distance of the intersection; and
adjusting a signal time period for the intersection traffic signal when the adverse road condition is present and the first vehicle is within a predetermined distance of the intersection, wherein adjusting the signal time period for the intersection signal includes extending a cautionary signal time period.