Traffic light safety zone

• US 20070296610A1
• Filed: 06/24/2006
• Published: 12/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Machinery Verification & Documentations Services, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Machinery Verification & Documentations Services, Inc.
• Inventors: Heffernan, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,468,680 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/932
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/095 Traffic lights

Abstract

A traffic light safety zone is a painted marked area, of parallel lines, approaching a traffic intersection to warn motorists whether they can safety proceed through the road intersection before a traffic sign light turns red, the zones are configured to indicate whether a motorist in the zone has clearance at a designated speed to proceed and cross with safety, the zone parallel colored thermal plastic painted lines form a visual indicator, and give an audio output due to the thickness of the thermal painted plastic; a distinctive traffic sign indicates to motorists of an approaching traffic light safety zone.

Claims

1. ) A traffic light safety zone indicating to approaching motorists whether the motorist can safely proceed through a roadway traffic light controlled intersection, said zone comprising of a visually marked zone located on and affixed to the roadway at a prescribed distance in accordance of the said intersection, said zone being configured to indicate to the motorist, that while the approaching the intersection at a prescribed speed, the driver has sufficient time or not to proceed through said intersection.

3. ) The traffic light safety zone in claim 1, wherein said visual marked zone is a painted thermal plastic stripe of specific thickness, imparting an audio signal through the vehicles tires to the driver.

4. ) The traffic light safety zone in claim 1, wherein said visual marked zone is a plurality of parallel stripes of alternating colors.

5. ) The traffic light safety zone in claim 1, further comprising a sign having visual indicia indicating to a driver that said traffic light safety zone is fourth-coming.

6. ) The traffic light safety zone in claim 1, wherein the distance through an intersection and road speed limit are correlated to indicate the location of the said traffic light safety zone in advance of said intersection.

2. ) The traffic light safety zone as claim in 1, where in said visual marked zones is a painted zone of a predetermine size, imparting a visual indicia to a motorist.

7. ) A method of providing information and guidance to a vehicle driver how to proceed with safety as they approach traffic lights, comprising the following steps:

a) providing a visual indicator on how to safety proceed when approaching traffic lights,

b) provide guidance on how to proceed as and when the light changes,

8. ) The zones locations and length are determined by the road speed limit. Statically locating the zone allowing the motorist sufficient time to make the decision to cross in safety or to slow down and stop by:

a) providing bright red and yellow parallel lines painted across the road to alert drivers that they are in a traffic light traffic zone,

b) providing an audio signal indicating that the motorist is in a road traffic light safety zone,

c) providing a road-sign to indicate to motorists that they are approaching a traffic light safety zone and

d) in foggy weather and/or poor visible weather, when the traffic lights cannot always be seen, the traffic light safety zone road markings provide a visual road sign indicating to motorists that they are approaching traffic lights.