Quick return

• US 20080284616A1
• Filed: 04/28/2008
• Published: 11/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Azael Flores Rendon
• Original Assignee: Azael Flores Rendon
• Inventors: Rendon, Azael Flores
• Application Number:
  US12/150,604
• Publication Number:
  US 20080284616A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/907
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/07 Controlling traffic signals

Abstract

A method for controlling traffic at an intersection which helps to avoid traffic jams at intersections by taking advantage of the free space ahead of the intersection and implementing an exclusive right return lane for the drivers wanting to make a left turn at the intersection in a very inexpensive way, thus minimizing traffic interruptions and raising the average velocity of the vehicles.

Claims

1. A method for controlling traffic at an intersection of a first and a second main road comprising multiple lanes in each direction for circulating vehicles, comprising:

providing at least one exclusive right lane for at least one direction of a road, said exclusive right lane located after passing the intersection, and said exclusive right lane ending on a pedestrian crossing;

providing a traffic light at said pedestrian crossing, including signals equivalent to “

go” and

“

stop”

for the exclusive right lane and signals equivalent to “

go” and

“

stop”

for the remaining lanes; and

providing the intersection with a traffic signal for each direction of each road, each traffic signal including signals equivalent to “

go” and

“

stop”

.

2. A method for controlling traffic at an intersection in accordance with claim 1, wherein the exclusive right lane is located at a distance of no more than 700 m from the intersection.

3. A method for controlling traffic at an intersection in accordance with claim 1, wherein the exclusive right lane is located at a distance of between 150 to 300 m from an intersection.

4. A method for controlling traffic at an intersection in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

allowing vehicles circulating on the first main road to pass the intersection when the traffic signal indicates “

go”

;

allowing vehicles circulating on said first main road wanting to make a “

u-turn”

to take said exclusive right lane and wait at the traffic signal which indicates “

stop”

;

allowing the remaining vehicles circulating in the remaining lanes of the road to pass the pedestrian crossing and its traffic signal, which indicates “

go”

;

allowing the remaining vehicles circulating in the remaining lanes in both directions to stop at the “

stop”

signal behind the pedestrian crossing; and

allowing the vehicles waiting at the exclusive right lane to make the u-turn at the “

go”

signal”

.

5. A method for controlling traffic at an intersection in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

allowing vehicles circulating on the first main road to pass the intersection when the traffic signal indicates “

go”

;

allowing vehicles circulating on said first main road wanting to make a “

u-turn”

to take said exclusive right lane and wait at the traffic signal which indicates “

stop”

;

allowing the remaining vehicles circulating in the remaining lanes of said first main road to pass the pedestrian crossing and its traffic signal which indicates “

go”

;

allowing the remaining vehicles circulating in the remaining lanes in both directions of said first main road to stop at the “

stop”

traffic signal behind the pedestrian crossing;

allowing the vehicles waiting at the exclusive right lane to make the “

u-turn”

at the “

go”

signal”

;

allowing the vehicles making the “

u-turn”

to incorporate to the right lanes of the contrary direction of said first main road;

allowing said vehicles to make a right turn and take the second main road.

6. A method for controlling traffic at an intersection in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

allowing the vehicles circulating on said first main road to make a right turn an take the second main road if desired;

allowing vehicles circulating on the first main road to pass the intersection when the traffic signal indicates “

go”

;

allowing vehicles circulating on said main road wanting to make a “

u-turn”

to take said exclusive right lane and wait at the traffic signal which indicates “

stop”

;

allowing the remaining vehicles circulating in the remaining lanes of the road to pass the pedestrian crossing and traffic signal which indicates “

go”

;

allowing the remaining vehicles circulating in the remaining lanes in both directions to stop at the “

stop”

traffic signal behind the pedestrian crossing;

allowing the vehicles waiting at the exclusive right lane to make the “

u-turn”

at the “

go”

signal”

;

allowing the vehicles making the “

u-turn”

to incorporate to the right lane of the contrary direction; and

allowing said vehicles to go straight and pass the intersection if desired.

7. A method for controlling traffic at an intersection in accordance with claim 5, in which when the traffic lights at the intersection, indicates “

go”

for both directions in said first main road and “

stop”

for both directions in said second road.

8. A method for controlling traffic at an intersection in accordance with claim 6, in which when the traffic lights at the intersection, indicates “

go”

for both directions in said first main road and “

stop”

for both directions in said second road.

9. A method for controlling traffic at an intersection in accordance with claim 4, wherein pedestrians are allowed to cross the pedestrian crossing when the traffic light at said pedestrian crossing indicates “

stop”

to both directions of a main street.

10. A method for controlling traffic at an intersection in accordance with claim 5, wherein pedestrians are allowed to cross the pedestrian crossing when the traffic light at said pedestrian crossing indicates “

stop”

to both directions of said first main street.

11. A method for controlling traffic at an intersection in accordance with claim 6, wherein pedestrians are allowed to cross the pedestrian crossing when the traffic light at said pedestrian crossing indicates “

stop”

to both directions of said first main street.

12. A method for controlling traffic at an intersection in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first and second main road each including a first and a second direction, wherein each direction of the first road has an exclusive right lane and wherein the method further including:

allowing the vehicles circulating on the first direction of the second main road to make a right turn in the intersection and take the first direction of said first main road;

allowing vehicles circulating on said first direction of said first main road wanting to make a “

u-turn”

to take said exclusive right lane and wait at the traffic signal which indicates “

stop”

;

allowing the remaining vehicles circulating in the remaining lanes of the first direction of said first main road to pass the pedestrian crossing and its traffic signal which indicates “

go”

;

allowing the remaining vehicles circulating in the remaining lanes of the first and second direction of said first main road to stop at the “

stop”

traffic signal behind the pedestrian crossing;

allowing the vehicles waiting at the exclusive right lane to make the “

u-turn”

at the “

go”

signal”

;

allowing the vehicles making the “

u-turn”

to incorporate to the lanes of the second direction of said first main road;

allowing the vehicles circulating on said second direction of said first main road to cross the intersection and its traffic signal, which indicates “

go”

allowing vehicles circulating on said second direction of said first main road wanting to make a “

u-turn”

to take the exclusive right lane of said second direction of said first main road and wait at the traffic signal which indicates “

stop”

;

allowing the remaining vehicles circulating in the second direction of said first main road to pass the pedestrian crossing and traffic signal which indicates “

go”

;

allowing the remaining vehicles circulating in the remaining lanes in both directions of said first main road to stop at the “

stop”

traffic signal behind the pedestrian crossing;

allowing the vehicles waiting at the exclusive right lane of said second direction of said first main road to make the “

u-turn”

at the “

go”

signal”

;

allowing the vehicles making the “

u-turn”

to incorporate to the first direction of said first main road; and

allowing said vehicles to make a right turn in the intersection and take the second direction of said second main road.