Yikes! Autonomous cars to control intersections, drivers be aware!

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https://unionrayo.com/en/traffic-lights-color-white-autonomous-cars/

In this article, traffic researchers looking to improve traffic flow via autonomous cars and a 4th white light on the traffic light to signal that autonomous cars are controlling the light please follow their lead.

Cue the Outer Limits theme song:



“Do not attempt to control your television. We control the horizontal. We control the vertical. …”
 
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Physics news on Phys.org
1970's era, a proposal was to have emergency vehicles control traffic lights so as to lessen their time to a situation. Saw that in a science magazines of the era. This is just a re-hash from 50 years ago.

Any city put that technology into operation?
Why not? It costs money. Taxpayer money.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traffic_signal_preemption
 
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256bits said:
1970's era, a proposal was to have emergency vehicles control traffic lights so as to lessen their time to a situation. Saw that in a science magazines of the era. This is just a re-hash from 50 years ago.

Any city put that technology into operation?
Why not? It costs money. Taxpayer money.
It's a thing in the US:

https://www.clickorlando.com/traffi...cy-vehicles-change-traffic-lights-on-the-fly/
 
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What about pedestrians and cyclist?

Doesn't this make the system easy to hack? No need for the "real Napster" traffic hack anymore! Just simulate autonomous car signals.

 
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256bits said:
1970's era, a proposal was to have emergency vehicles control traffic lights so as to lessen their time to a situation. Saw that in a science magazines of the era. This is just a re-hash from 50 years ago.

Any city put that technology into operation?
Why not? It costs money. Taxpayer money.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traffic_signal_preemption
Of course. It is implemented in most cities in Silicon Valley where we respond.
 
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It was even factored into Numb3rs — Season 3, Episode 5, “Traffic.”

In the episode the perpetrator used a device like the ones on emergency vehicles to preempt traffic signals (turning them green) to open an escape route
 
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