Traffic light safety zone

• US 7,468,680 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2006
• Issued: 12/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Machinery Verification & Documentations Services, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Machinery Verification & Documentations Services, Inc.
• Inventors: Heffernan, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg; George A
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAU, HOI CHING
• Application Number:
  US11/473,985
• Publication Number:
  US 20070296610A1
• Time in Patent Office: 913 Days
• Field of Search: 340/916, 340/929, 340/932, 404/16
• 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 a motorist can safely proceed through a roadway traffic light controlled intersection, said zone comprising a visually marked zone located on and affixed to the roadway at a prescribed distance from said intersection, said zone being configured to indicate to the motorist, that while approaching the intersection at a prescribed speed for said roadway, the motorist in said zone has sufficient time to proceed through said intersection, said prescribed distance being measured from a leading edge of said zone as said motorist approaches said intersection to a clearance exit of said intersection, said zone having a length along said roadway which is a function of said prescribed speed.

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

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

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 forthcoming.

6. The traffic light safety zone in claim 1, wherein the prescribed 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.

7. A method of providing information and guidance to a vehicle driver how to proceed with safety as the driver approaches an intersection with traffic lights, comprising the steps of:

a) providing bright red and yellow spaced parallel lines painted across a road to alert drivers that they are in a traffic light safety zone indicating that it is safe for the drivers to proceed through the intersection, said traffic light safety zone having a length along said road which is a function of a prescribed speed for said road,

b) providing an audio signal indicating that the drivers are in said road traffic light safety zone,

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

d) locating a leading edge of said traffic light safety zone as said zone is approached a prescribed distance from a clearance exit of said intersection depending on the prescribed speed for said road so that if the traffic light turns yellow when in said safety zone drivers will know that their vehicles will clear the intersection before the traffic light turns red.