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Smart vehicle technology is being used on the streets of Edmonton, making it the first Canadian city to see cars "communicating" with each other and with roadside infrastructure in an effort to improve road safety.
The new technology uses a wireless device that exchanges information between connected vehicles in real time with roadside equipment, such as traffic lights or message signs. It also alerts drivers motorists to hazards, such as whether they're speeding or following too closely. It can also tell drivers if they are going to make it through a green light at an upcoming intersection or if they should prepare to stop.
[...] The technology, being tested under the ACTIVE-AURORA research initiative at the University of Alberta (U of A), was announced at the International Conference on Transportation Innovation in Edmonton Sept. 16.
"ACTIVE-AURORA will be a data-driven test bed for the whole region," said Tony Qiu, a civil engineering professor and director of the U of A's Centre for Smart Transportation. ACTIVE-AURORA is a partnership involving all three levels of government—Transport Canada, Alberta Transportation and the City of Edmonton—as well as the U of A, the University of British Columbia and several industry partners.
(Score: 2) by bzipitidoo on Thursday September 22 2016, @07:22PM
Traffic lights are such low hanging fruit that have received bad or no attention. This craze to monetize them with red light cameras and call it a safety measure was such an anti-social, counterproductive, cynical approach to improvement.
About once every 10 to 20 miles of driving on streets, I have to wait at a red light for nothing, no traffic in the other direction. Many times, I've been in a small group of cars with no more traffic behind us, approaching a light, and one car comes up on the side street and the light responds, stopping us all. Would save a lot of collective time and gas to make the one car wait a few more seconds. So, yeah, lots of room for improvement.
I know of a few political lights, like one for a very expensive golf club that is programmed to turn green for the club immediately whenever a member drives up to it. Lights at shopping centers are also subject to such political considerations.