As congestion in urban areas is becoming a major problem, cities are turning to advanced technologies for traffic to improve the safety of roads and cut down on wasted energy. This helps passengers and drivers save time, lowers emissions, and reduces traffic jams.
The technology behind it is built on both software and hardware. The first is the executing subcomponent, while the latter is the technologytraffic.com/2020/05/01/modern-traffic-technologies-by-board-room/ command and control center. Both are complemented by advanced technology for processing and sensing that include ANPR (automotive license plate recognition) that captures data on vehicle movements and can detect traffic signals.
Depending on the type of solution, smart traffic lights are able to process data on-device or transfer it to a cloud-based location. The latter allows for more advanced analysis and modeling to reduce traffic congestion and harmonize public transport schedules. According to Carnegie Mellon University, this can reduce average travel time by 25 percent, and wait times for signals are cut by 40% and emissions are cut by 20%..
A well-designed traffic light system in addition to reducing the amount of time traffic signals take to operate they can also improve the flow of pedestrians as well as of micromobility vehicles like ebikes or electric scooters. This is due to the fact that they’re often not able to comply with traditional traffic signal preemption rules. In London the number of accidents involving e-scooters increased by 2,800% during the first half 2021. Therefore, it is crucial to include them in traffic light controls.
