A Video-based System Methodology for Detecting Red Light Runners

This paper presents a video-based system methodology for automatic red light runner detection on an image sequence. It extracts information regarding the state of the traffic light and vehicle motions without any physical or electronic connections to the traffic light control system or the buried loop detectors. The new methodology detects vehicle motions based on the virtual loop detector concept. A prototype has been built and tested in field trials. Results show that the prototype may be deployed at any junctions to detect multiple red light runners in multiple lanes. The methodology is also robust, reliable and effective in coping with hostile but realistic outdoor scenarios. 1 Introduction The detection of the so-called 'Red Light Runners' (RLR), those who violate the red light, is one of the major issues in traffic management that has been studied by many around the world in the past'-6. The consequence of violating the red light could be fatal, and yet many motorists continue to do so without considering the potential hazard they may have caused. Recent research study has indicated that red light violation rate can be reduced substantially if Red Light Cameras (RLC) are installed ~trate~ically'.~. For example, in Scottsdale, Arizona, the red light violation rate dropped by 62% at intersections monitored by R L C ~. Other case studies also confirmed similar potential benefits. However, even with such possible reduction in violation rate, annual figure for red light offences can still be startling. For instance, Hong Kong has been using RLC for a number of years. In 1997 alone, it has recorded 25,710 red light violation offences, from which 251 of them have resulted in serious accidents. The effect of red light monitoring and violation identification is positive without doubt. The question to be asked is whether this approach can be made more effective. Most of the RLC employ a still camera and a number of buried loop detectors. The still camera must be mounted on a fixed camera post at some fixed location in relation to the traffic lights. It has to be electronically connected to the traffic light control system and two or more buried loop detectors at the junction in order to operate. Its principle is that when the traffic light is red and the loop detectors have detected one or more vehicles moving beyond the stop line into the junction at the same time, the camera takes two …