The Influence of Countdown Timers on Safety and Driver Reaction Time at Intersections with Traffic Lights

The article discusses the subject of countdown timers. Contradicting views about their occurrence and diversified results of scientific research, as well as initial legal obstacles connected with their appliance in Poland were the motivation to make an attempt to conduct own research. On its basis, an attempt was made to answer the question if countdown timers improve traffic in the city. Next, if they ultimately contribute to faster driver reaction time. The attention was focused mainly on driver reaction time during traffic light change from red with yellow to green. Drivers’ gender was also discerned. The observations had been made at two intersections in Opole (one with countdown timers and the other without them). The received results were analyzed and an attempt was made to compare the obtained road user reaction times. The obtained results have been completed by statistical analysis based on hypothesis testing (with the use of the null hypothesis). Its aim was to examine in detail the amount of driver reaction time at intersections with countdown timers and intersections without countdown timers. In the result of conducted statistical analysis, it was ascertained that countdown timers influence driver reaction time when the signal changes from red and yellow to green.