From a Purely Systemic and Functional Perspective: Fundamental Flaws of the Current Traffic Light System
Fundamental Flaws (System-Level Analysis)
1. Discrete Signal Control Fails to Respond to Dynamic Flow
Traffic lights are based on fixed-time cycles or reactive scheduling, utilizing an exclusion-based "first come, first go" logic.
However, vehicle and pedestrian flows are continuous, nonlinear, and highly variable. Static signal control cannot optimize such complex, dynamic systems.
2. Multiple Agents Compete for the Same Physical Space
Pedestrians, bicycles, cars, emergency vehicles, turning traffic, and through traffic all intersect at a single node, resulting in multiple conflict points.
Traffic lights attempt to resolve spatial conflicts by dividing access over time. This merely "delays risk" rather than eliminating it.
3. All Participants Must Actively Interpret, Judge, and React
The system depends on human users to perceive signals, interpret meaning, make decisions, and act accordingly.
This introduces the potential for human error: distraction, misjudgment, fatigue, and violation.
4. Lack of Synchronized Coordination and Prediction Across the System
Each intersection acts as a local decision node, with little or no coordination between them. This creates cascading bottlenecks and accumulates risk probabilities.
How to Completely Eliminate Traffic Accidents (From a Full-System Perspective)
Below is a proposed ideal architecture that removes root causes and fully replaces traffic lights:
1. Global Traffic Synchronization System (GTS)
Every vehicle and user is connected to a high-frequency, low-latency network (e.g., quantum positioning + V2X communication).
All positions, velocities, and trajectory predictions are processed in real time by the system for complete coordination.
2. Non-Overlapping Space Principle: Remove All Crossing Conflicts
Pedestrian and vehicle routes are separated entirely (e.g., elevated or underground pedestrian networks).
Vehicle intersections become "conflict-free dynamic routing zones," where the system ensures that no two objects ever occupy intersecting trajectories at the same time.
3. Fully Autonomous Vehicles (Complete Removal of Human Driving)
Eliminates human-related delays, misjudgments, and rule violations.
All vehicles submit their destinations and preferences upon entry; the system allocates optimal, non-colliding paths for each.
4. Predictive Path Scheduling with Progressive Avoidance
The system forecasts the behavior of every moving object over the next 10–30 seconds.
If a potential trajectory conflict is detected, it automatically alters routes and velocities ahead of time, preventing incidents before they can occur.
5. Dynamic Spatial Allocation Instead of Time-Based Scheduling
Replaces "who goes during which time slot" with "everyone moves simultaneously, but along precision-separated paths."
Similar to a 3D air traffic control system applied to ground transport, every node is a pre-negotiated, non-conflicting trajectory space.
Final State: Eliminate the Concept of Yielding or Stopping
All movement is planned, distributed, and dynamically adjusted by the system.
There is no longer a question of "who should go" or "who should yield" because spatial and route negotiations have eliminated all conflict possibilities at the source.
Conclusion: Risk Minimization Requires Systemic Redesign
To truly eliminate traffic accidents, we cannot rely on stricter rules or heavier penalties within the existing signal system.
We must redesign from the ground up, removing the systemic risk created by:
- Multiple agents competing for the same space
- Human-dependent judgment and reaction requirements
You can think of this system as evolving city transportation into something similar to an airport or space station—a fully pre-scheduled, high-complexity movement control infrastructure.