A New Color Could Be Added To Iowa Traffic Lights

Traffic lights in Iowa could be getting a new addition.

Despite how they drive, people were supposed to learn about how to navigate traffic lights in Driver's Ed. That apparently didn't stick though as we've all seen them zoom through the light when it's red or they're too distracted by their phones to move when it's green. Road trip season is almost here, so you might as well accept that you'll have to deal with all of those issues.

Now, researchers are suggesting a new traffic light color be added to the trifecta.

The reason to add the new color is honestly reflective of current technology and it is sure to tick people off.

The New Color And Why It's Here

Traffic Technology Today says that researchers strongly support adding white traffic lights to traffic light signals. Now, the light may not be white specifically, just a very different color than the red, green, or yellow we're all familiar with. The additional color could even vary depending on what state it's in.

The new traffic light color is meant to signify to humans when a self-driving car is at the intersection and let it control traffic flow. So if you see a white light, it's telling you to just follow the car in front of you.

The white light concept is thought to work because the self-driving car is smart. It is tied to the ability of the self-driving car to communicate with the computer controlling the traffic light.

Researchers did simulations of this and found that the main benefit were fewer delays at traffic lights but other traffic flow improvements were just marginal. I see no way this system could go wrong. Definitely no way.

White lights or AV (autonomous vehicle) lights aren't going to pop up right now. But you could very well encounter them later on down the road.