Analysis of Influence of the Timers at the Traffic Lights Crossroads Contributing to the Traffic Flow and Safety

Propusna moć raskrižja najčešće određuje i propusnu moć cjelokupne cestovne mreže gradskih cesta i ulica ili njezinih pojedinih dionica. U svrhu efikasnost i jednolike raspodjele prometnih tokova na raskrižju se najčešće postavljaju semafori. Dokazano je da trajanje ciklusa odnosno broja i dužine signalnih pojmova i broja faza dominantno utječu na propusnu moć i sigurnost odvijanja prometa na raskrižjima. Iako nema zakonske osnove u novije vrijeme uz semaforska svjetla postavljaju se i brojači preostalog vremena pojedine faze koji sudionicima u prometu omogućavaju uvid u preostalo vrijeme čekanja za promjenu pojedine faze. Prema obavljenim znanstvenim istraživanjima proizlazi učinkovitost primjene preostalog brojanja vremena na semaforima u velikoj mjeri ovisi o razlikama u mentalitetu i prometnoj kulturi određenog područja, ali i značajkama pojedinog raskrižja na kojima su brojači postavljeni. U pojedinim slučajevima brojači se nisu imali pozitivne učinke na poboljšanje sigurnosti prometa dok su u određenim situacijama pokazali određene pozitivne učinke što djelomično opravdava nastavak znanstvenog istraživanja učinkovitosti takvog sustava.Capacity of entire traffic network or segment of city roads is often determined by the capacity of one intersection. Traffic lights are often installed on intersection in purpose of efficiency and uniform distribution of traffic flows. It is proven that capacity of intersection and traffic safety is dominantly affected by the duration of a cycle or number and lenght of each signal term. Although they are not regulated by law, in recent years many signal countdown timers were installed on intersections alongside traffic lights. Thay count the duration of each phase and serve to participants in traffic so that thay could see how much time they will need to wait until the shift of next phase. According to some published scientific researches, the efficient application of countdown timers is dependent on mentality and traffic culture of certan area, and features of intersection on which the timers were installed. In certan cases countdown timers didn't have positive effects on traffic safety improvement, while in some other situations they have shown some positive effects which partially justifies continuation of scientific reasearch on the efficiency of that kind of system