Traffic gadgets may save lives

In 2003, about 934 people nationally were killed and 176,000 injured because someone ran a red light.

New technology that may be able to prevent some of these casualties was showcased Saturday afternoon as part of the celebration of the interstate highway system's 50th anniversary.

The potential of intelligent transportation systems is huge, said Jennifer Gavin, deputy director of communications for the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. These systems can warn drivers if they try to turn left in an area that does not allow left turns, or warn cars of hazardous conditions ahead. They can even cause cars to stop themselves if they are going to hit an object the driver perhaps does not see.

Demonstrated on Saturday in addition to the red light warning was a system that warns drivers they are approaching a work zone, and a wireless device that allows emergency vehicles to pre-empt traffic lights, giving them a clear shot through intersections.

These warning systems would only come into play when absolutely necessary to ensure a driver's safety, Gavin said. They don't want to annoy drivers or give so many warnings a driver starts ignoring them.

Also of concern is the privacy of individuals, said Kim Housewright, chief technical officer for Raytheon, one of the companies working to develop the technologies that make such warning systems possible. He said the devices are designed to protect anonymity.

"This is not a law enforcement device," he said.

In addition to making roads safer, Gavin said, a way to provide real-time traffic information is also being developed.

"It's about safety and squeezing maximum efficiency out of roads," she said.

Intelligent transport systems are not currently in any cars, Gavin said, as the infrastructure is not in place. These systems work through radios, she said, but use a chunk of bandwidth dedicated for the systems so car radios don't interfere. Gavin said the radio in the car would communicate with a radio in a box on the side of the road or in a traffic signal to send necessary warnings.

She said they hope to have all the necessary technologies up and running in the next five to 10 years.

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E-mail: dmaxfield@desnews.com