Time Display for Pedestrians Countdown to Green Walk Sign in Downtown
City of Solingen Installs Trafficpilot Display at Pedestrian Crossing
The city of Solingen, Germany, has taken a significant step towards improving traffic safety and pedestrian experience with the installation of a Trafficpilot Display system at a pedestrian crossing.
Before the installation, an average of 40% of road users were reported to run red lights during off-peak hours. The Trafficpilot Display aims to address this issue by providing clear, visible signals to alert drivers and reduce red light violations.
The system, funded by the Smart City funding project of the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community, features an animation that prompts the use of the pedestrian button. A countdown display along with a decreasing red bar is shown to pedestrians, indicating the remaining time until the green phase. Once the countdown is over, an animated figure signals the green phase.
The focus of the SmartCity project in Solingen is always on the human being. The project combines diverse topics such as mobility and traffic, energy and environment, security and resilience, urban and spatial planning, and open data and data management. The countdown consists of four displays - two per direction - at a pedestrian crossing on Konrad-Adenauer-Straße in front of the Theater & Concert Hall.
Michael Faludi, project engineer of the city of Solingen, stated that the system aims to contribute to greater transparency and higher acceptance of traffic light systems in the long term. The city of Solingen only has to bear 10% of the acquisition costs, as the project was funded to 90%. The cost for the new development and installation of the display amounted to around 50,000 euros.
After the initial testing phase of the remaining red time display, a survey will be repeated in the coming months to compare the results. If the system proves effective in reducing red light violations, it could potentially be rolled out to other pedestrian crossings in the city.
The SmartCity project in Solingen does not repeat the aim to increase traffic safety by reducing red light violations for all road users. However, systems like the Trafficpilot Display are generally designed to improve pedestrian safety and traffic compliance. Without specific study results or data from Solingen, no definitive conclusion can be drawn about the measured effectiveness of this particular system there.
The project was developed by the Technical Operations of Solingen, GEVAS software, and AVT STOYE. The city of Solingen is actively shaping the future of urban life as part of its transformation into a Smart City, aiming to contribute to diverse aspects of urban life, including greater transparency and higher acceptance of traffic light systems in the long term.
Technology plays a crucial role in the Trafficpilot Display system, as it features an animation and countdown display to improve traffic safety and pedestrian experience. The SmartCity project in Solingen also incorporates various technological aspects, such as data management and open data systems, to enhance urban life.
