We can all agree that the latest technological advancements have successfully changed the way we function on a day-to-day basis. In the world of transportation, we can see numerous changes as well.

Applying new technologies to roads came in the form of connected and autonomous vehicles as well as traffic lights. However, what about pedestrian crossing lights, the question is when should we improve this particular aspect of our lives.

The main elements of our road systems started back in the UK in the ‘40s, and we are still using them as they were beforehand.

Of course, the idea is the incorporate innovations into roads as well, so we can expect that things will change drastically in the next few decades.

According to a group of British designers, one innovation may affect things around us, especially when it comes to a zebra crossing. We are not talking about painted white lines anymore, but a complete change of the game named Starling Crossing.

It is a system of smart tiles that will light up with different signs as well as to adapt based on pedestrian requirements and traffic circumstances.

These tiles go hand-in-hand with various sensors and cameras that will instantaneously detect both pedestrian and road traffic, calculate positions, speeds, and directions based on the captured information, anticipate the next steps.

This will affect the configuration of the signs based on real-time requirements with an idea to increase the safety of most pedestrians along the way.

The Future Is Closer Than We Think

Based on the previous assessment, imagine the first thing in the morning where you cannot see the large groups of pedestrians. It is obsolete to use the signalization as before at the moments when everyone is running towards the work in their vehicles.

However, as soon as a pedestrian approaches, the system will turn on and allow him/her to use the safest part of the road to pass it through. However, on the busiest time of the day, the crossing area with expanding depending on the number of people.

In case there is a rainy day, it will adapt to wider stopping areas for both vehicles and pedestrians. You should click here to learn more about pedestrian crossings in general.

It can quickly identify the potentially harmful situation, which means that if someone is distracted by looking at their phone as they approach the road and car is nearby, a warning light will illuminate around them to display the other side that someone is passing through.

The Buttons Are Becoming Obsolete

Another important consideration is that pedestrian buttons for crossing the street are highly frustrating and, in some situations, useless. You may not have a free hand, or you can be clueless or slow along the way.

Instead of waiting for the right moment, the new development will change the way we use the buttons in general. The developments include traffic lights that will determine your intentions before you decide to cross a street.

The Austrian researchers created a camera, which is equipped with traffic lights that will detect people who wish to cross it. They use a computer vision system that will scan the area around it and signal the lights when it detects more people in that particular scanning position.

This particular solution happens in a matter of seconds, and it is more efficient than pressing a button, according to researchers.

Check out this link: https://www.wikihow.com/Be-Safe-at-Traffic-Lights to learn how to be safe at traffic lights.

Another important consideration is the flexibility that comes with it because it can extend the green light in case groups of pedestrians are crossing, or it can stick to red in case people change their mind beforehand.

Even though the main problem that comes with this particular innovation includes privacy issues, which is why the imagery will never leave the camera, and it relies more on geometric info that will react based on the intent.

According to researchers, it cannot recognize individuals and differentiate one from another, which is an important consideration to have in mind.

Remember that this is not just a research project, because the first lights will become part of Vienna by the end of 2020 at selected locations.

Of course, it is just an experiment that they will use to see whether it is efficient in real-time or not, but generally, this particular innovation could become part of the world shortly.