There May Be a Fourth Color Added to our Traffic Lights in WA, OR, CA
We grew up with the traffic lights engraved in our memories from elementary school songs.
Red means Stop
Green means Go
Yellow means Wait
...even if you're late.
Now, if you've driven in Yakima streets for the past several years you'd think people have a few of those mixed up, but for the past century we've had those lights to help direct us through intersections so we don't just crash into others. Stop and Go and later Yellow was introduced to let you know that go is just about to turn into stop so you can slow down in time. It doesn't seem like you need any more colors than if you could stay or if you should go, or if you can go but to be cautious about it.
Now that we're well into the 21st century, there is a group of people who are proposing a 4th color be added.
Traffic Technology Today mentions North Carolina State University researchers are proposing a fourth color added to the traditional 3-light system we've been using for near 100 years.
White.
The purpose is for autonominous vehicles to basically take over the traffic system and help control the flow of traffic on the fly as needed.
Yakima doesn't have these, but I've been to cities that have self-driving cars that people would use. Admittedly, I'm still iffy on the whole situation but technology being what it is, it was very futuristic to see.
Certainly you've been there before. You pull up to a red light that's red for basically no reason. There are clearly no cars coming on either side for several blocks and, yet, here you are stuck at a red light. You have the urge to just go anyways since there are no cars but, as you know, that's illegal.
If a white traffic light was in place for autonominous vehicles and those cars were at play, it would know that it's safe to just turn over quicker and you'd be well on your way. The white light is to let humans know that was the deciding factor.
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