Researchers Say Fourth Traffic Light Needed for Autonomous Vehicles

Researchers are proposing that a fourth, white light for autonomous vehicles (AVs) should be added to the traditional red, amber and green at traffic lights. The recommendation has come from transportation engineers at North Carolina State University, who say the measure could improve traffic flow. The suggestion is that when this is happening, the white light would be activated. “First, AVs improve traffic flow, regardless of the presence of the white phase. Third, the higher the percentage of traffic at a white phase intersection that is made up of AVs, the faster the traffic moves through the intersection.