MIT researchers have developed an algorithm that can "detect" drivers who're likely to drive straight across a red light - before they do so.
The monitor "watches" deceleration and distance from a light - and "guesses" which cars are likely to break the Highway Code.
Crucially, the software can provide two seconds' warning if someone else is about to shoot across a crossroads - enough time for other drivers to hit the brakes.
Jonathan How, the Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics at MIT, says "smart" cars of the future may use the system to help drivers anticipate and avoid potential accidents.
The researchers tested the algorithm on data collected from an intersection in Virginia, finding that it accurately identified potential violators within a couple of seconds of reaching a red light — enough time, according to the researchers, for other drivers at an intersection to be able to react to the threat if alerted.
Compared to other efforts to model driving behavior, the MIT algorithm generated fewer false alarms, an important advantage for systems providing guidance to human drivers.
The researchers report their findings in a paper that will appear in the journal IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems.