UK government to open up roadworks data

The UK government plans to open up roadwork data to tech companies with the aim of reducing traffic jams. The Department of Transport (DfT) says companies could potentially develop navigation apps powered by artificial intelligence that can warn drivers up to months in advance of planned disruption to routes and offer alternatives. George Freeman, minister for the future of transport, says the announcement will “help open up data, reducing congestion, pollution and frustration for road users”. The
September 2, 2019 Read time: 1 min
The UK government plans to open up roadwork data to tech companies with the aim of reducing traffic jams.


The Department of Transport (DfT) says companies could potentially develop navigation apps powered by artificial intelligence that can warn drivers up to months in advance of planned disruption to routes and offer alternatives.

George Freeman, minister for the future of transport, says the announcement will “help open up data, reducing congestion, pollution and frustration for road users”.

The move is also expected to aid the development of route planning systems for connected and autonomous vehicles (C/AVs).

Working with local authorities and the C/AV sector, the DfT will look at introducing legislation to make it easier to access data around 5,000 yearly road closures.

UTC

Related Content

  • April 25, 2019
    Iteris chosen for Florida C/AV initiative
    Iteris has been selected by authorities in Florida to plan and manage a connected and autonomous vehicle (C/AV) project. The board of commissioners in Lee County has tasked Iteris with assessing potential new technology and working out how to make transport systems more intelligent. Supported by Gannet Fleming, Iteris will create a strategy to help local authority staff work out where the products of tech companies, auto makers and infrastructure providers might fit into current and future transport plans
    Read More
  • January 30, 2012
    UK government to investigate best practice for travel information
    The UK Government has been advised by an internal inquiry that it should investigate examples of best practice in travel information services. So where might it look? Jon Masters reports. Publication of a UK Government report on road congestion this year has highlighted a need to look beyond home borders when searching out answers to pressing problems. With regard to issues of travel information in particular, UK transport professionals would do well to look overseas for solutions they can emulate.
    Read More
  • February 26, 2019
    AV technology ‘could reduce congestion’, says Australian minister
    Congestion costs would drop by more than a quarter if automated vehicles (AVs) account for 30% of kilometres travelled, says Alan Tudge, Australia’s minister for cites urban infrastructure and population. Speaking at the Australia-New Zealand Cities Symposium in Sydney, Tudge revealed findings from the Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics. “They estimate it would drop from $37 billion of avoidable congestion to $27 billion,” Tudge says. A 30km freeway journey in Melbourne has increas
    Read More
  • October 3, 2018
    Copenhagen: everything's gone green
    As the ITS World Congress arrives in Copenhagen, Adam Hill finds out how Dynniq has been helping traffic flow – and CO2 reduction - in the Danish capital. Most of the time, ‘breathing easier’ is just an expression which indicates a metaphorical sigh of relief that something has worked out alright. But it can be literally true, too. Respiratory and other potential health problems which stem from pollution in the world’s increasingly urbanised environments have been well publicised and governments are
    Read More

Highlighted Content