A novel Red Light Running Warning System using connected v2i technology, phase 2: driver testing on public roads

Summary

Red light violations pose a significant threat to public safety on our roads, contributing to numerous accidents and fatalities each year. To address this critical issue, the research team developed an innovative Red Light Running Warning System (RLRWS) that aims to reduce these dangerous incidents by providing timely guidance to drivers as they approach intersections. During a prior Minnesota Local Road Research Board (LRRB) project, researchers demonstrated a prototype of this system to the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) and local agency engineers at the Scott County CSAH 18/CSAH 21/Southbridge Parkway intersection. The purpose of this follow-on project is to further develop the technology towards general driver use. In this project, researchers are resolving three main limitations with the prototype work. First, they test responses by drivers who were not involved with engineering the RLRWS towards use by the general public. Second, they implement an iterative learning control to adapt the RLRWS warning to the individual driver so that the driver?s response matches the computed desired response. Third, since the prototype testing occurred only at a single intersection, researchers will create a loop of five intersections with varying geometries to provide more options for testing the RLRWS. By expanding the RLRWS to multiple intersections with more drivers, researchers have the opportunity to demonstrate its real-world impact and pave the way for broader adoption, ultimately making Minnesota's roads safer for all.