Coordinating signals is a method of signal timing that causes systems of signals to work together so that groups of vehicles will be able to move through the signals without stopping. The animation below shows the difference between coordinated and uncoordinated signals.
As you could see from the animation, uncoordinated signals will often force the vehicles to have to stop. This is a great inconvenience for drivers and something that transportation engineers will try to minimize with good signal coordination. Depending on the size of the network in question, this can become very complex. However, we have developed some training materials and sample exercises that attempt to explain this subject. As in the other modules, this is broken down into the Background and Exploration sections, with Case Study 9 and Case Study 10.