Method and apparatus for traffic light violation prediction and control

A method for predicting a traffic light violation of a traffic signal having at least a red phase and a green phase, comprising:

• providing image data showing at least one vehicle approaching said traffic signal;
• and
• determining, responsive to said image data and an indication of a current traffic light phase, whether said at least one vehicle approaching said traffic signal will violate a red light phase of said traffic signal.

A collision avoidance system for a first traffic signal having a current light phase equal to one of a red light phase and a green light phase, and a second traffic signal having a current light phase equal to one of a red light phase and a green light phase, comprising:

• at least one image capturing device, for capturing a plurality of images;
• said plurality of images showing at least one vehicle approaching said first traffic signal;
• a computation unit, responsive to said plurality of images and an indication of said current first traffic signal light phase, for determining whether said at least one vehicle approaching said first traffic signal will violate said red light phase of said first traffic signal, and for delaying an upcoming green traffic light phase of said second traffic signal responsive to a determination that said at least one vehicle approaching said first traffic signal will violate a red phase of said first traffic signal.

A method for controlling vehicular traffic at an intersection having a first traffic light for controlling traffic approaching said intersection from a first direction and a second traffic light for controlling traffic approaching said intersection from a second direction, wherein each of said traffic lights includes at least a red phase and a green phase, said method comprising:

• obtaining a plurality of images of a vehicle approaching said intersection from said first direction;
• analyzing said plurality of images to predict whether said vehicle will violate said red light phase of said first traffic light;
• responsive to a determination said vehicle will violate said red light phase of said first traffic light generating a delay signal indicative of said predicted violation.

An accident avoidance system for an intersection having a traffic signal having a current light phase equal to one of a red light phase and a green light phase, and a pedestrian crosswalk passing through a path of traffic controlled by said first traffic signal, comprising:

• at least one image capturing device, for capturing a plurality of images of said pedestrian crosswalk, said plurality of images showing at least one pedestrian within said pedestrian crosswalk;
• and
• a computation unit, responsive to said plurality of images and an indication of said current traffic signal light phase, for determining whether said at least one pedestrian in said crosswalk will exit said crosswalk prior to said current traffic signal light phase transitioning from red to green, and for delaying an upcoming green traffic light phase of said traffic signal responsive to a determination that said at least one pedestrian will not exit said crosswalk prior to said current traffic signal light phase transitioning from red to green.