NC State researchers want 4th traffic light for autonomous cars [Video]

RALEIGH, N.C. — Green means go, red means stop, and yellow means slow down ahead of a stop. These three make up the typical traffic light, but researchers at North Carolina State University believe a fourth light could make a big difference.

The “white light” proposed by NC State transportation engineers would help self-driving vehicles control traffic flow and let humans behind the wheel understand what’s happening.

Researchers found adding that fourth light would both shorten wait times for pedestrians at crosswalks and also improve traffic flow for all vehicles, according to a release from NC State. The system would work by activating the white light communicating to autonomous vehicles when there are enough near the intersection. 

To humans, it would signify to “simply follow the car in front of them.”

Ali Hajbabaie, an author of the …