USERS' GUIDE FOR A SIMPLE PERFORMANCE INDICATOR FOR TRAFFIC SIGNALS

Efficient traffic control not only reduces delay and frustration to motorists, it also reduces emissions of pollutants and aids the economy. Traffic signal control of junctions is the major technique used to manage traffic on the road network and so it is important that traffic signals operate as efficiently as possible. This guide describes the use of a performance indicator (PI), which has been developed under a contract from the DfT to be suitable for use by local highway authorities, or others auditing the road network performance, to assess the operating efficiency of isolated traffic signal controlled junctions. An important input to the assessment process is the local policy for the operation of a particular junction, or all the junctions under an authority's control. Experienced traffic signal engineers are in short supply and so the objective of the PI is to provide a method that can be used by less experienced staff to provide a quick sift to prioritise where the limited expert effort should be concentrated. (A)