System for preempting the normal function of traffic signals

Abstract

A traffic preemption system including at least one identification device for an identification of a vehicle and / or a driver of the vehicle; a historical travel database including records of previously taken routes by the vehicle or the driver; and a traffic signal preemption device. The traffic signal preemption device is configured to preempt a normal action of traffic signals dependent upon the identification of the vehicle and / or the identification of the driver by the identification device and the previously taken routes by the vehicle and / or the driver as determined by the historical travel database.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This is a divisional application based upon U.S. non-provisional patent application serial no. 15 / 582,586, entitled “ COLLISION AVOIDANCE AND TRAFFIC SIGNAL PREEMPTION SYSTEM”, filed Apr. 28, 2017, which is incorporated herein by reference. Application Ser. No. 15 / 582,586 was a continuation-in-part application based upon U.S. non-provisional patent application Ser. No. 14 / 976,607, entitled “SYSTEM FOR PREEMPTING THE NORMAL FUNCTION OF TRAFFIC SIGNALS”, filed Dec. 21, 2015, and was additionally based on U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62 / 328,856, entitled “METHOD AND PROGRAMMING OF EMERGENCY VEHICLE TRAFFIC SIGNAL PREEMPTION AND COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM”, filed Apr. 28, 2016.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention generally relates to traffic control systems, and more particularly to, a signal preemption system that prioritizes traffic signal changes to efficiently route an emergency v...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011]An advantage of the traffic preemption system of the present invention is that it looks at historical traffic patterns to help clear traffic from a likely route.

[0012]Another advantage is that the traffic preemption system allows the function of the turn signal to override the predicted path.

[0013]Yet another advantage is that the system uses the habits of drivers to determine the likely travel path.

Problems solved by technology

This has not always proven to be a successful technique, even though it is still the standard mode of operation for emergency vehicles today.

Unfortunately, accidents involving emergency vehicles often occur at intersections due to confusion, impaired hearing, inattention, noise conditions or overly-aggressive drivers seeking to clear the intersection before the arrival of the emergency vehicle.

Other factors are the speed of the emergency vehicle and the resulting inability of others to react to it, distractions affecting the driver of the emergency vehicle, and the like.

Further problems are caused when multiple emergency vehicles are approaching the same intersection.

This situation is further complicated when the sirens and other signals from multiple emergency vehicles can be heard within the same area—a combination confusing to both pedestrians and other motorists, as well as the operators of both emergency vehicles.

In many cases, due to siren noise and the intensity of focused driving at high speeds through congested areas, emergency vehicle operators are often not aware of other such vehicles in the same area.

This may not allow for ample time for the next traffic signal in its path (following the turn) to effectively clear traffic along the route, slowing its response.

While emergency vehicles operate in proximity to each other there is a heightened chance of their colliding due to assumptions made on the part of the operators.

Images