Traffic Trends: LED Traffic Signal Modules Are Alternative to Incandescent Lamps

The California Department of Transportation has been involved with the development of LED traffic signal modules for more than a decade. The recent energy crisis played a key role in speeding up the statewide conversion from incandescent lights to LEDs.

The Institute of Transportation Engineer's Future Directions Advisory Committee (FDAC) was appointed to identify and consider the trends and issues facing the Institute and the transportation profession. The FDAC gathered and reviewed information on transportation issues and identified trends:

• continuing increase in demand for transportation;
• Population increases and urbanization increase traffic flows
  
• traffic congestion;
• Progarmmable controllers and LED lights can improve communications and monitor/measure and adapt to traffic congestion
  
• transportation programs to help meet air quality and energy goals;
• Think saving energy, reducing greenhouse gases and reducing wasted mileage on the streets
  
• greater mix of revenue sources for transportation;
• Think BLUE LEDs on traffic signals to identify traffic violations!
  
• federal government setting the direction for transportation programs;
• Think funding...and ubiquitious traffic communications for tourism and travelers
  
• operations and demand management taking precedence over increasing capacity;
• Less is better...especially vehicles on the road.  Less oil consumption, less congestion, less accidents, less infrastructure costs...
  
• intelligent vehicle highway systems
• Programmable systems adapt to changing conditions and can even be predictive and take immediate steps to reroute traffic, etc.