UK town to use traffic lights to tackle speeding

Swindon in the UK is set to trial smart traffic lights which turn to red if approaching drivers are breaking the speed limit. Sensors will detect speeding vehicles and if they are above a preset limit then the signals ahead will turn to red. If congestion builds up then the traffic light phasing will change automatically to allow more traffic through the junction. ANPR systems will detect emergency vehicles and ensure they are not inhibited by the system.
April 25, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
RSSSwindon in the UK is set to trial smart traffic lights which turn to red if approaching drivers are breaking the speed limit. Sensors will detect speeding vehicles and if they are above a preset limit then the signals ahead will turn to red. If congestion builds up then the traffic light phasing will change automatically to allow more traffic through the junction. ANPR systems will detect emergency vehicles and ensure they are not inhibited by the system.

In 2009, Swindon became the first local authority in the UK to switch off all of its speed cameras in response to budget cuts from central government, a move that has been copied by several other authorities. Interestingly, it is reported that since then, accidents both at the camera sites, and in the town as a whole, have dropped.

“We welcome trials of technologies other than cameras to deter speeding drivers and this sort of system is already extensively used in Spain and Portugal,” commented Professor Stephen Glaister, director of the 4961 RAC Foundation. “But will the odd red light be enough of a deterrent to change the behaviour of persistent offenders?
Detection, Monitoring & Machine Vision Classification & Data Collection Urban Traffic Control

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Spanish city wins 2015 Smart City award
    July 7, 2015
    The Smart Cities 2015 Award, presented by the Socinfo Foundation and Sociedad de la Información magazine, has been awarded to the Pozuelo de Alarcón, Spain, smart city project. The award was given for a project that consists of four integrated systems: smart irrigation, street lighting, energy efficiency and smart parking. Wireless parking specialist Nedap played a part in the project, installing the intelligent parking system using its Sensit wireless parking sensors that detect the occupancy of a park
    Read More
  • Maturing photo enforcement gains legal status, public support
    August 2, 2012
    In the US, affirmation of the photo traffic enforcement sector's legal status and rising public support were significant aspects of 2009. James Tuton, President and CEO of American Traffic Solutions, looks back over the year. In 2009, the photo traffic enforcement industry in North America continued to grow and mature, accompanied by increased public, legislative and legal scrutiny. While public support remains strong, we also saw increased attempts to undermine the industry by representatives of a small bu
    Read More
  • Jenoptik launches latest red light and speed enforcement at Intertraffic
    March 21, 2016
    Jenoptik, the international solution provider for global traffic safety, will use Intertraffic Amsterdam to launch TraffiStar SR390, the company’s TraffiCompact speeding and red light enforcement system. This is a fully-fledged system for advanced red light and speed enforcement in a compact single-pole solution with optical red light status detection. Vehicle classification is possible thanks to the multi-target tracking radar and the offending vehicle is marked in the offence pictures. Detection of turn v
    Read More
  • Audi traffic light recognition technology
    March 11, 2014
    Audi is ready to add a little oil to the wheels of the daily grind with advanced traffic light recognition technology which could make driving through towns and cities far more fluid. Audi Online traffic light information harnesses the power of in-car internet in a new way via Audi connect to establish a link between the car and the traffic light network via the central traffic computer in each town or city. It quickly assimilates the automated traffic light change sequences in the vicinity, and on the a
    Read More

Highlighted Content