Design and Implementation of a Closed-Loop Traffic Control System with Speed Control Influence on Proximity Vehicles and Overriding Capabilities

Normally the traffic control system as we know it is a non-intelligent system that operates as an open-loop control system whereby traffic lights turn on and off following a preset time interval and sequence, with no regard for traffic density and with no direct emphasis on traffic rules. This opens up room for major traffic congestion and road accidents even in well-developed cities with sophisticated land transportation infrastructures. Land transportation infrastructures in most developed cities cannot be expanded further and so it has become clear that we need to improve our traffic control systems, rather than trying to expand infrastructures, in order to effectively reduce traffic congestion and improve road safety through better traffic management. Poor traffic management causes fuel wastage, increased air pollution, time wastage, and accidents and drives up stress; hence it is high time we improve traffic management systems to increase the overall quality of human life. This chapter proposes a modern traffic management system, which seeks to improve on the existing system by utilizing sensors, radio transmitters, radio receivers, and computer software to detect and control traffic density, sense pedestrian presence, and take action to emphasize speed limits by influencing vehicle speeds, both autonomously and through human intervention (overriding).