UK Government Plans to Reduce Traffic Congestion with Artificial Intelligence

In the latest effort to subdue the traffic congestion in the country, the UK Government announced plans to open up data on congestion, repair works and any other scheduled disruptions to the country's road network. This data accessibility plan will enable tech companies to develop and improve navigation apps with Artificial Intelligence that can predict jams and warn drivers in advance and offer alternatives to assist them in saving both time and money.

The government hopes that the next-gen AI-powered apps will provide drivers the confidence to plan important trips without the fear of being stuck in traffic, and cut congestion, delays and air pollution as well.

This move will provide advanced warning of potential traffic jams, together with more than £300 million (US$368 million) in new funding for UK innovators to build a cleaner, greener forms of transport. Besides this, five new transport research networks will receive a £5 million (US$6 million) cash injection for their work making cleaner forms of fuel and other technology breakthroughs to reduce emissions and improve air quality. This new research networks will be led by the University of Birmingham, the University of Leeds, the University of Durham, Cardiff University, and University College London.

Working in collaboration with local authorities and the Connected and Automated Vehicle (CAV) sector, the UK Department for Transport plans to introduce legislation to make it easier to access data around the predicted 50,000 yearly road closures. Conversely, the review will support the government's Future of Mobility Grand Challenge by contemplating whether the current legislation is appropriate to maximize the potential of future technologies.

As the plan will help drivers to plan trips without the fear of being stuck in jams, the department further adds, the scheme could also improve air pollution by cutting down the number of vehicles in traffic hotspots.

Traffic Congestion Pushes Down the Country's Economy

Last year, motorists in the UK lost 178 hours to road congestion, costing £1,317 ($1,608.1) per person and setting back the country's economy almost £8 billion overall. The British government is trying to reduce these cost losses, with announcing a review of the legislation surrounding Traffic Regulation Orders (TRO), which define how temporary roadworks or network changes can be organized and managed.

The government believes that releasing TRO data will facilitate the development of autonomous and self-driving vehicles, and provide such vehicles the data necessary to their route planning systems.

The UK Minister for the Future of Transport, George Freeman said "As a road user, there is nothing more frustrating than discovering roadworks and getting stuck in traffic jams. Today's announcement will help open up data, reducing congestion, pollution, and frustration for road users."