Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) is looking to install a congestion-busting information system at busy junctions in Birmingham following a successful trial.
The Green Light Optimal Speed Advisory (GLOSA) system relays impending traffic light changes to cars, allowing them to adjust their speed and avoid sharp braking between junctions. It was trialled at 10 junctions on the A45 Coventry Road in Birmingham.
According to the transport authority, the trial involved a selected group of motorists who saw a 10% to 14% reduction in stop-starts over the 6km route and their journey times were cut by up to 7%.
GLOSA recently won the project of the year award from ITS (Intelligent Transport Systems) UK, a national organisation which promotes the pioneering use of technology in transport.
Now, TfWM wants to work with partners to see how GLOSA can be rolled out further across the road network.
Transport officials say that with installation costs of less than £1,000 per junction, the system could be cheaply and quickly expanded to other routes. And while the trial saw the data sent to a smartphone held by a passenger, the open source app could be easily adapted to in-car information systems or sat nav devices in future.
Councillor Waseem Zaffar, Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment at Birmingham City Council, said: “It is fantastic news that this innovative technology, which was tested right here in Birmingham, has won this prestigious award.
“Anything that helps to reduce congestion on our roads is to be welcomed and I am pleased that the success of the trial means that this system could now be rolled out further.”
GLOSA will be refined with an expanded trial in 2019.