Skip to main content

Abu Dhabi traffic lights get smart

In a bid to reduce congestion during peak hours, Abu Dhabi transport authorities have completed the installation of smart systems to control traffic lights at key intersections depending on the number of cars on each side. Officials said the system has been installed at 56 junctions in Abu Dhabi city and outskirts and described it as one of the world’s most advanced traffic management systems involving smart applications and ground sensors. The new system uses in-road sensors to detect the number of v
November 14, 2014 Read time: 2 mins
In a bid to reduce congestion during peak hours, Abu Dhabi transport authorities have completed the installation of smart systems to control traffic lights at key intersections depending on the number of cars on each side.

Officials said the system has been installed at 56 junctions in Abu Dhabi city and outskirts and described it as one of the world’s most advanced traffic management systems involving smart applications and ground sensors.

The new system uses in-road sensors to detect the number of vehicles at the intersection and automatically switches between lights depending on the number of cars on the sides of the intersection.

Transport department roads director Faisal Al Suweidi said “This is a very advanced traffic management system and will largely ease traffic congestion in the city…it will also reduce petrol consumption and consequently cut pollution levels in the air.”

Related Content

  • Sharjah looks to smooth traffic flow 
    August 9, 2022
    Kapsch TrafficCom installing system to speed vehicle progress and cut emissions
  • Vivacity & Vaisala take the air 
    November 18, 2021
    Partners will deploy 350 air quality sensors in UK's West Midlands Combined Authority area 
  • New opportunities in a data-rich future
    March 19, 2014
    Jason Barnes looks at where the detection and monitoring sector is heading. In the future, there will be no such thing as an un-instrumented road. Just a short time ago, that could have been a quote from a high-level policy document but with the first arrivals of vehicles with 802.11p connectivity – the door-opener to Vehicle-to-X (V2X) applications – it’s a statement which has increasing validity. The technology which uses our roads will also provide information on road conditions but V2X isn’t the only
  • Positive incentives an alternative to road user charging?
    February 1, 2012
    The Netherlands has been looking at incentivising rush-hour avoidance. The intention is to better understand road users' motivations and find alternatives to congestion charging. Something significant needs to happen if we are to adequately address the traffic congestion and other issues caused by the ever-rising numbers of vehicles on our roads. Congestion or distance-based charging is seen as one way of managing demand and raising revenue for improvements to transport infrastructure. However, charging is