An automotive vehicle receives packets from at least one signaling device. The packets are formatted in accordance with a wireless personal area network and received exclusive of a connection being made in the wireless personal area network. Location and purpose data of the signaling device contained in the packets are analyzed and travel of the vehicle is controlled based on the location and purpose data of the signaling device.

A traffic intersection monitoring system and method to ensure a traffic signal is viewable by vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians, by measuring the color light intensity of the signal light, and monitoring the orientation of the traffic signal light. Each phase of color is timed and coordinated with traffic counters to generate a real-time status of predicted future traffic signal light color with corresponding traffic volume. The predicted status and traffic counts are published for the use of any applicable subscriber of the traffic intersection monitoring system.

A traffic intersection monitoring system and method to ensure a traffic signal is viewable by vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians, by measuring the color light intensity of the signal light, and monitoring the orientation of the traffic signal light. Each phase of color is timed and coordinated with traffic counters to generate a real-time status of predicted future traffic signal light color with corresponding traffic volume. The predicted status and traffic counts are published for the use of any applicable subscriber of the traffic intersection monitoring system.

Disclosed are methods and systems for improving the safety of an intersection. One or more sensor readings can be received. The one or more sensor readings can be compared to one or more thresholds. A signal can be provided to one or more lighting devices based on whether the one or more sensor readings satisfy the one or more thresholds.

A method for permitting a target vehicle to safely violate a right-of-way system of rules is described. The method may comprise, amongst other things, providing a roadway system, wherein the movements of vehicles within the roadway system are governed by a right-of-way system of rules; controlling a traffic control system including a plurality of traffic control signals in a manner that causes the plurality of traffic control signals to change in accordance with default control pattern for implementing the right-of-way system of rules; and modifying the default control pattern. By doings so, the method may permit a target vehicle to safely violate the right-of-way system of rules. Similarly, by doing so, the method may prevent a plurality of secondary vehicles from traveling along or through a predicted path of the target vehicle.

A method for permitting a target vehicle to safely violate a right-of-way system of rules is described. The method may comprise, amongst other things, providing a roadway system, wherein the movements of vehicles within the roadway system are governed by a right-of-way system of rules; controlling a traffic control system including a plurality of traffic control signals in a manner that causes the plurality of traffic control signals to change in accordance with default control pattern for implementing the right-of-way system of rules; and modifying the default control pattern. By doings so, the method may permit a target vehicle to safely violate the right-of-way system of rules. Similarly, by doing so, the method may prevent a plurality of secondary vehicles from traveling along or through a predicted path of the target vehicle.

A control apparatus is a control apparatus for causing light emitting devices to display a crosswalk when the control apparatus detects a pedestrian who is about to cross a road. The control apparatus includes a controlling portion configured to perform: detect, as a first vehicle, a vehicle traveling in a crosswalk display region where a crosswalk is to be displayed; determine whether or not the speed of the first vehicle is less than a reference speed; and in a case where the speed is less than the reference speed and a predetermined safety standard is satisfied, determine to cause the light emitting devices to display the crosswalk.

While it is well known to power traffic control devices (for example, traffic lights) by an alternative energy source during power outages, some embodiments of the present invention additionally have: (i) a set of control computer(s), remote from the various traffic control devices, that is powered by an alternative energy source during a power outage; and/or (ii) a communication network, for communications between the set of control computer(s) and the various traffic control devices, that is powered by an alternative power source during a power outage. The use of alternative power to power the control computer(s) (for example, a hub) and/or the communication network allows the traffic control devices to continue to operate in a coordinated manner as instructed by the control computers, thereby avoiding a situation where the traffic lights begin operating independently of each other during a power outage.

While it is well known to power traffic control devices (for example, traffic lights) by an alternative energy source during power outages, some embodiments of the present invention additionally have: (i) a set of control computer(s), remote from the various traffic control devices, that is powered by an alternative energy source during a power outage; and/or (ii) a communication network, for communications between the set of control computer(s) and the various traffic control devices, that is powered by an alternative power source during a power outage. The use of alternative power to power the control computer(s) (for example, a hub) and/or the communication network allows the traffic control devices to continue to operate in a coordinated manner as instructed by the control computers, thereby avoiding a situation where the traffic lights begin operating independently of each other during a power outage.

Technologies and techniques for quality determination for a traffic system. First traffic parameter data is acquired from the traffic system, indicative of a parameter of the traffic system. Second traffic parameter data is acquired, indicative of another parameter of the traffic system, wherein the second traffic parameter data originate from a plurality of traffic participants. The parameter from the first traffic parameter data and second traffic parameter are obtained, wherein the parameter obtained from the first traffic parameter data is compared to the parameter obtained from the second traffic parameter data in order to determine the quality of the first traffic parameter data.