Traffic engineers program these cycles to optimize the safe and efficient flow of vehicles and pedestrians through a junction. The process involves setting cycle lengths, phase splits, and offsets between adjacent intersections to create coordinated progression along a corridor. Poor calibration leads to phantom jams, excessive idling, and frustrated drivers.
The city needs to adjust the signal timing on Main Street because the afternoon platoon keeps getting caught at the red light.
Also heard as
- phasing
Related terms
Clearance time
The duration required for an intersection or road segment to empty of traffic before conflicting movements begin.
Phantom jam
A traffic bottleneck that forms on a highway without any physical obstruction or crash.
Intelligent transportation system
The application of sensing, analysis and communication technologies to surface transportation networks.