Downtown Time Display: Pedestrians are informed of the countdown until the next traffic light turns green
Solingen Introduces Trafficpilot Display to Boost Traffic Safety
The city of Solingen, Germany, is taking a significant step towards becoming a Smart City by introducing a new traffic management system. The Trafficpilot Display system, a first of its kind in the country, has been installed at a pedestrian crossing on Konrad-Adenauer-Straße, in front of the Theater & Concert Hall.
The Trafficpilot Display system is part of Solingen's Smart City project, a long-term initiative aimed at shaping the future of urban life. This project focuses on implementing digital, innovative, and technological projects to turn visions into reality and make technical innovations usable through concrete applications. The goal is to improve various aspects of urban life, including mobility and traffic safety.
The Trafficpilot Display system works by providing real-time feedback to drivers as they approach intersections. The display shows the remaining time until the green phase on a monitor after pressing a button. An animation prompts the use of the pedestrian button, followed by a countdown display and a decreasing red bar. After the countdown ends, an animated figure signals the green phase.
Before installation, a measurement showed that, on average, 40 percent of road users ran red lights during off-peak hours. The Trafficpilot Display system aims to enhance traffic safety by reducing red light violations for all road users. The city of Solingen hopes that this will reduce the number of pedestrians crossing a busy street on red.
The development and installation of the Trafficpilot Display system cost around 50,000 euros. The project is funded to 90 percent, meaning the city of Solingen only bears 10 percent of the acquisition costs. After an initial trial phase, a survey will be repeated in the coming months to compare the results.
Studies and observations in Solingen have shown a noticeable decrease in the number of drivers running red lights since the installation of the Trafficpilot Display system. This reduction in violations contributes to fewer accidents and improved overall safety at intersections. The system's immediate, visible feedback serves as a psychological nudge, prompting drivers to slow down and adhere to traffic signals.
The Smart City project in Solingen combines diverse topics such as mobility and traffic, energy and environment, security and resilience, urban and spatial planning, as well as open data and data management. The focus of the project is always on the human being. The Smart City funding project ended at the end of 2024.
In conclusion, the Trafficpilot Display system in Solingen is an effective tool for increasing traffic safety by lowering red light violations through timely, clear information that promotes compliance with traffic rules. The city's commitment to becoming a Smart City is evident in its continuous efforts to improve urban life, making it safer, more efficient, and more enjoyable for its residents.
- The Trafficpilot Display system, a technological innovation, is part of Solingen's Smart City project, which focuses on implementing digital, innovative, and technological projects.
- The Trafficpilot Display system, by providing real-time feedback to drivers, aims to enhance traffic safety and reduce red light violations, demonstrating the impact of technology on improving aspects of urban life.
