In my recent trip to China, I noticed how the navigation systems in the XPENG X9 and G6 indicated the traffic light duration - it even works for traffic lights that did not feature a countdown timer.
This reminded me of how I always thought that traffic lights countdown timers should be implemented in Singapore. In fact, there are many others who think so - a quick search will show you plenty of discussions around the topic, reaching back to more than a decade ago.
And each time the LTA has responded, it says that the case has been studied and results show that countdown timers don't do much to improve road safety. We all know the result of studies might not match the actual experience of drivers, furthermore, there's more than just safety to consider here. So here's our take on this matter from a driver.
What could traffic light countdown timers improve?
Traffic light countdown timers would remove the ambiguity - the specific duration of each light differs from junction to junction. By having a timer to pre-empt drivers of an impending change in the traffic light signal could reduce the propensity of accidental red-light violations, and it could also reduce the reaction time and delay before drivers move off when the light turns green.
All these effects would work together to reduce the stress on drivers on the road, improving safety and uplifting the experience and efficiency of all road users.
Studies have resulted in mixed results
The LTA has repeatedly responded that studies are showing the ineffectiveness of countdown timers, and it didn't take long for me to find them online.
A study in Greece shows that traffic light countdown timers do not improve the situation in red-light running, and that drivers are predominantly using the feature to cross faster rather than safer. However, the same study also notes that start-up delays were significantly reduced. It shows that there is a positive effect from the use of traffic light countdown timers, but it clearly wouldn't help in the reduction of traffic light violations if the drivers choose to do so knowingly.
More recently, and closer to home, LTA mentioned that it conducted a six-month trial and found that drivers are speeding up in attempts to beat the countdown timer, resulting in increased risk of accidents.
However, according to a study in the U.S.A back in 2017, it was found that when presented with a situation where it is uncertain if one should proceed or stop at the traffic light - also known as a dilemma zone - the countdown timer made it 13% more likely for a motorist to stop instead of making a dangerous dash to beat the light. This reinforces the point that traffic light countdown timers help to reduce ambiguity for drivers when they approach a traffic light, hence resulting in safer decisions.
The case for traffic light countdown timer
Unlike red-light cameras, which uses penalties as a deterrence to breaking traffic regulations, the use of countdown timers attempts to improve safety and the driving experience by allowing drivers to make safer and more accurate decisions.
It was mentioned in the Greece study that some drivers knowingly chose to beat the red light by moving off as the countdown timer was reaching zero, and this heavily skewed the results. However, such actions would activate the red-light camera, and considering the amount of them, 252 to be exact, in Singapore, it is unlikely for the same practice to occur here.
Ultimately, if a driver were to make the conscious decision to beat a red light, it wouldn't matter if there's a countdown timer, thus making this matter a moot point.
Removing ambiguity from traffic light signals
In case you haven't already noticed, the traffic light timing in Singapore varies according to the size of the junction, as well as other factors. The duration of the amber lights and right-turn green arrows differ, and is a substantial cause of undue stress on drivers.
Travelling at the same speed, you could end up crossing a junction without any fuss, or you could also end up beating a red-light, raking up 12 demerit points and a $400 fine. This same dilemma could also trigger drivers to stop abruptly - which could very well be as dangerous as speeding up in an attempt to beat the timer, if there was one. But, barring user error, a countdown timer would remove the guesswork and allow drivers to accurately gauge the traffic light duration and make a better judgement.
Pre-empting drivers before the light turns green
Start-up delays when the light turns green is something that we encounter everyday, and the issue is only made worse with the current smartphone era. The fact that we are legally allowed to use our smartphones when the car is stationary at a traffic light only makes matters worse. If anything, modern technology, including the feature-rich infotainment systems in cars, has resulted in more distracted drivers than ever.
By having a countdown timer, drivers would be able to know if there is enough time for them to check their phone, to grab his water bottle for a sip, to adjust his car seat or any other action that could delay their reaction time to move off.
A simple solution to improve safety and reduce congestion
With neighbouring countries such as Malaysia and Thailand utilising such countdown timers, it makes you wonder why the LTA is so reluctant to adopt a system that could potentially improve road safety and traffic flow.
While cost is likely to be a major factor, it could be adopted in gradual stages to dampen the effect - we could start only with junctions that are equipped with red-light cameras so that drivers would be deterred from utilising the information from the traffic light timer in an attempt to beat the light. Alternatively, should the number of drivers choosing to speed up to beat the timer prove to be significant, the traffic light timers could also be implemented only for the countdown towards green light - this way we'll get to enjoy the benefit of a quicker start-up without the former issue.
The point is, there are many ways to implement traffic light timers, be it in conjunction with different systems such as red-light and speed cameras, or even a totally different way of implementation. LTA could even incorporate a traffic light countdown timer system within the ERP 2.0 OBU system that they have spent so much time and money to develop and offer even more usability out of that large display.
If an independently produced car in China could include such a feature in its navigation system, maybe we can learn from them and incorporate it into our unique government-backed project with substantial funding, such as the OBU?
