Skip to main content

UK city to introduce thermal imaging traffic management

City of York Council is to introduce thermal imaging technology on key cycle routes in York to help reduce the time spent at traffic signals, improve journey reliability and cycle safety. The city is set to become one of the first councils in the country to start using the technology which will accurately detect cyclists at signals by their ‘heat signature’, allowing the signals to react accordingly and be adjusted to give more ‘green time’ for cyclists. The thermal technology was first introduced by
March 24, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
City of York Council is to introduce thermal imaging technology on key cycle routes in York to help reduce the time spent at traffic signals, improve journey reliability and cycle safety.

The city is set to become one of the first councils in the country to start using the technology which will accurately detect cyclists at signals by their ‘heat signature’, allowing the signals to react accordingly and be adjusted to give more ‘green time’ for cyclists.

The thermal technology was first introduced by 1466 Transport for London last year as part of the cycle superhighway network.

The scheme is all part of a multi million pound overhaul of York’s ageing traffic signals – the largest scheme the city has seen since the last major overhaul of York’s traffic signals in the mid 1990s which introduced the city’s new urban traffic control system to control the city’s transport network.

The five year scheme also includes replacement of worn out and unreliable in-road road loops with camera systems for traffic detection.

The authority is also proposing to replace approximately half of the 122 traffic signals and 54 pedestrian crossings in the city over a five-year rolling programme with modern equipment.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Jenoptik supplies sophisticated multi-section control project
    November 17, 2014
    Efficient speed enforcement in the most highly frequented tunnel in Austria on the A7 near Linz. The Bindermichl-Niedernhart tunnel complex on Austrian highway A7 connects the major east/west A1 route from Vienna/ Bratislava to Munich/Salzburg with the A7/ E55 running south from Prague in the Czech Republic. This happens right in the middle of the city of Linz, Austria.
  • Refurbishing ageing VMS with new technology
    January 26, 2012
    Virginia DoT faced a challenge common to many highway authorities around the world: the need, in economically challenging times, to replace ageing variable message signs reaching the end of their operational life. For some 25 years now, since the mid 80s, Virginia Department of Transportation (VDoT), has deployed variable message signs (VMS) as part of its motorist information systems. Throughout the state there are still many old 'flip-disk' signs. Some of the companies that provided these electronic messa
  • Manchester has £14m integrated travel funding
    February 10, 2023
    North-west English region progresses plans to improve buses and active travel
  • Independent review says most bus lanes should go
    October 28, 2014
    An independent review of Liverpool’s bus lanes is recommending that the majority be removed, but four in the city centre will be retained. On a number of other routes, measures such as bus detector loops are recommended. The city’s 26 bus lanes were suspended in October 2013 to monitor and analyse the effects on congestion and traffic flow. Transport consultant Mott MacDonald has carried out the review and their work was supported by groups of elected members, bus operators and the partners.