Preemptive traffic light control based on vehicle tracking and queue lengths

Today it is possible to implement adaptive traffic light control as part of intelligent transport systems with the goal to reduce the respond times of emergency services. This allows preemptive traffic light control in an effort to reduce travel times of emergency vehicles in urban areas and negative effects on the total travel times of all vehicles in the traffic network. In this paper, a new algorithm for preemptive traffic light control is proposed. It is based on emergency vehicle location and intersection queue length data. Using these data the algorithm dynamically adapts the signal program of a signalized intersection. Proposed algorithm is tested in four different scenarios using a realistically simulated isolated intersection as a use case. The analysis of the obtained results reveals that travel times of emergency vehicles can be reduced up to 13 %. In the same time, the negative effects on the total travel time of all vehicles in the network can be reduced or even compensated.