Traffic lights might see a fourth signal as self-driving cars become more practical. Getty Images/iStockphoto. The researcher’s latest plans differ from a 2020 model of a four-light intersection.

These simulators are showing researchers that traffic improves with the presence of AVs and a fourth traffic light and that fuel consumption is much lower as there is much less stop-and-go movement.

1914, however, saw the first electric traffic light. It was designed by James Hoge in Cleveland, and he even received a patent in 1918. His traffic light featured two illuminated words, “stop” and ...

The tricolor electronic traffic light has existed since 1914, and the color scheme is used the world over. So get ready for every old-timer to absolutely lose it over the IEEE's latest idea: ...

“However, after World War II, the Road Traffic Act [of 1960] described the traffic light as ‘ao,’ and it has been referred to that way ever since.” But the move was not without controversy.

The team first introduced the idea of a fourth light in 2020, but realized a centralized system with a traffic light receiving AV signals and calculating the best route caused processing delays.