Isolated Traffic Signal

Signal
Traffic signals are used to assign vehicular and pedestrian right-of-way.
They are used to promote the orderly movement of vehicular and
pedestrian traffic and to prevent excessive delay to traffic.

Advantages of Signals
Provide for orderly movement of traffic;
Increase traffic capacity of the intersection;
Reduce the frequency of certain types of crashes (e.g. right-angle
crashes);
Provide for continuous or nearly continuous movement of traffic along
a given route;
Interrupt heavy traffic to permit other traffic, vehicular or pedestrian, to
cross.
Disadvantages:
Excessive delay;
Excessive disobedience of the signal indications;
Increased use of less adequate routes as road users attempt to avoid the
traffic control signals;
Significant increases in the frequency of crashes (especially rear-end
crashes).
Four leg intersection
 / cycle

The function of yellow change interval is to warn traffic of an impending change in the right-of-way
assignment and the function of the all-red clearance interval is to provide additional time following the
yellow change interval to clear the intersection before conflicting traffic is released.
Example of two phage signal design
G(26 sec)
2
3

G(17 sec)
2
3
 Example of four phase signal design
Assume an intersection with four approaches as
shown in fig. The demand flow and saturation
flow of all approaches are shown in table. All red
time is 3 sec/cycle and lost time is 1 sec per
phase
Assume an intersection with four approaches as shown in fig. The demand flow and saturation
flow of all approaches are shown in table. All red time is 3 sec/cycle and lost time is 1 sec per
phase

Turn Link 1 Link 2 Link 3 Link 4

Dir. Demand Saturati Demand Saturati Demand Saturati Demand Saturati
on Flow on Flow on Flow on Flow
Through 400 1800 550 1800 450 1800 400 1800
Left 400 1500 500 1500 300 1500 300 1500
Right 100 1000 100 1000 200 1000 150 1000

Assume four cycle as follows 3

Phase 1: Through and left turn traffic from link 2 & 3
Phase 2: Through and left turn traffic from link 1 & 4
Phase 3: Right turn traffic from link 2 & 3 1 4
Phase 4: Right turn traffic from link 1 & 4