Smart Traffic
How we get from point A today
to point B tomorrow
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Traffic Congestion
Clogged roadways need new approaches
Next time you're stuck in traffic ground to a halt, think about this: as smart as our cars have become, our roadways are about to get a whole lot smarter.
It's certainly needed. Cities everywhere are battling an increase in demand and an inability to build sufficient infrastructure to cope. For example, in the U.S., as population grew nearly 20% between 1982 and 2001, traffic jumped 236%.
Building new roads and new lanes often just isn't possible any longer, but building intelligence into the roads and the cars—with roadside sensors, radio frequency tags, and global positioning systems—certainly is.
In Stockholm, a new smart toll system has reduced traffic congestion and carbon emissions by impressive percentages.
In London, a congestion management system has lowered traffic volume to mid-1980s levels. In Singapore, a system can predict traffic speeds with nearly 90% accuracy. With future enhancements, the system will help predict—rather than merely monitor—other traffic conditions, as well.
Nobody likes traffic congestion
Every year, traffic wastes 58 supertankers of fuel. What can you do? Build a smarter planet.
Traffic systems are part of a larger system
Rethinking how we get from point A to point B means applying new technology and new policies to old assumptions and habits. It means improving the drivers' experience, not just where and when they drive. And it could lead to advances in the cars we drive, the roads we drive them on, and the public transit we might take instead. For example:
A smart traffic system helped the city of Stockholm cut gridlock by 20%, reduce emissions by 12% and increase public transportation use dramatically.
Many cities around the world face common transport challenges. Download this report from the IBM Institute for Business Value on how cities can learn from one another's success in integrating their transportation services.
Traffic was one subject at IBM's Global Innovation Outlook conference where some of the world's brightest minds were asked: how do we improve our cars, our roads, our public transit and how we ship our goods?
Smarter transportation means better systems for rail, air, public transit and freight. These can improve our cities, our economy and our daily lives.
