Examination of traffic density, fuel consumption and emissions at signalized intersections working with different systems within Elazığ provincial borders

This study covers the comparison of fixed and variable duration signalized intersection systems in urban traffic management in terms of environmental, operational and safety aspects. The increasing number of motor vehicles and urbanization increase the traffic density; This triggers fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. While fixed-time systems cannot react to changes in traffic density, variable-time systems adjust signal times according to real-time data, reducing waiting time and carbon emissions. The dynamic systems implemented in Elazig have reduced the waiting time by 26% and provided 1000 tons less carbon emissions annually with adaptive traffic signal management planned according to vehicle density, especially at critical points such as Hazardağlı Junction. These systems are also integrated with intelligent transportation systems, increasing efficiency and sustainability, and have the potential to reduce traffic accidents and environmental impacts. The aim of this study is to comparatively analyze the effects of fixed and variable duration signalized intersections on traffic flow, fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in Elazig. In line with the data obtained from the Hazardağlı Junction, the environmental and operational performances of different signal management systems are evaluated. In this context, the strengths and weaknesses of existing practices are revealed in order to develop more effective and sustainable solutions in traffic management. In addition, according to the data of the Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK), as of 2023, the number of motor vehicles registered to traffic in Elazig has exceeded 127,000, and this increase directly affects the traffic density and the effectiveness of signaling systems. For this reason, in the study, the current status and improvement potential of traffic management policies in Elazig are evaluated, taking into account the current vehicle and traffic statistics of TUIK.