Local ABC affiliate WFTS Tampa Bay spoke to the City of Lakeland recently about its installation of hybrid detection sensors and automated traffic signal performance measures software as part of its Intersection Collision Safety Program.
The program, which utilizes a combination of Iteris' Vantage Vector® Hybrid detection solution and the Iteris SPM™ platform, is focused on reducing red-light related crashes at key intersections, with a view to presenting the resulting data to the Florida Department of Transportation for approval of a more broad rollout. After six months of studying the number of drivers who run red lights at four major intersections, the City of Lakeland is ready to present its findings to FDOT at a meeting on Friday morning.
City officials want to implement a program where sensors would be able to predict if drivers would run a red light by measuring speed and distance. In turn, the information would be used to signal all lights to stay red for extra time, allowing the driver to pass through the red light but preventing all other drivers from proceeding.
If FDOT approves this and it works, Lakeland could be a pilot city to make red lights longer in other parts of the Tampa Bay area, and maybe even the state.
About the Author:
David Sadeghi is senior manager, digital marketing at Iteris.
