The Effect of Countdown Timer with Running Text at Signalized Intersection: An Empirical Study

This study aims to analyze driving behaviour at signalized
intersections due to the countdown timer. In the scenario, we also
test the countdown timer with running text that lacks attention in the
literature. We collect data on lost time, early start, number of vehicles
passing per cycle, number of violations and vehicle’s speed. In determining
the signalized intersection for scenario implementation, we consider
the volume of vehicles, the number of phases, and the geometric of the
intersection in the city of Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The results show that
the use of a countdown timer in traffic lights, whether with running text
or not, is able to increase the efficiency of vehicle movement. The lost
time decreases, and the number of vehicles that pass each cycle increases.
However, the number of early starts at the signalized intersection increases.
Meanwhile, the average speed of vehicles at the end of a green
light signal does not show a statistical difference between traffic lights
without and with a countdown timer, whether with running text or not.
The use of running text in the last few seconds of the red-light signal
tends to give a smaller early start than an unmodified countdown timer.
In addition, the number of vehicles violating the rules when entering
a red light tends to decrease for the traffic light with a countdown timer.
The number of violations when using an unmodified countdown timer
tends to be less than the countdown timer with running text.