Adding a New Color to Traffic Lights in Lafayette and Beyond
(Lafayette, LA) - In the world of traffic lights, the colors we see are pretty simple: we have the usual red, amber, and green, but new research is offering the possibility that a new white light might be added.
Lafayette Drivers Have a History of Running Red Lights
Most people know exactly what to do when they encounter certain colored lights at an intersection, but that doesn't mean they always follow the rules. For example, a red light means you must stop. The only trouble is when Lafayette drivers decide to play the game, "Don't Let Me Crash," and hope they can make it through the intersection, even though they can clearly see they are running a red light.
Green on a traffic light means go, and amber means caution, alerting drivers that it's about to turn red.
Could a White Light Be Added to Traffic Signals in Lafayette and the State?
Some researchers exploring the future of travel have proposed adding a white light at the bottom of a traffic light for autonomous vehicles. Engineers are always working to improve traffic and prepare for the future. According to Family Handyman, it's a "developing conversation" about what the future of traffic lights could be.
Would Acadiana Drivers Embrace Self-Driving Cars and the White Light?
Will half of all vehicles be autonomous within the next couple of decades? Could that happen sooner? Who remembers the 1990 movie "Total Recall" and the ANNOYING automated cabs with "Johnny"? That character was scary as all get out. The concept was great, but that talking cab driver was straight up strange!
Adding a White Traffic Light Would Be Helpful to Self-Driving Vehicles
How would the white light work? Folks at North Carolina State University have been pondering this, including multiple scenarios. One proposal is to put the white light on the bottom; when it's on, it would signal the human-driven vehicle to follow the car in front of it. North Carolina State University researchers are continuing ongoing research into the possibility of one day having a white light that would help to improve overall traffic.
The good news is that Lafayette won't have a white light added to any of our traffic signals anytime soon. Research continues on the best path forward, so the Federal Highway Commission hasn't approved anything yet.
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Gallery Credit: BernadetteLee
