British drivers will soon have the feeling that they are stuck at the traffic lights for longer than usual, thanks to pedestrian-friendly technology.
Clever new software being introduced at pedestrian crossings can now adjust light sequences depending on the number of people waiting. The system is an evolution of existingtechnology that gauges car traffic volumes to dictate light sequences.
Andy Kirkham, adaptive traffic signals consultant at Transport Research Laboratory (TRL), which developed the system with traffic software companies Peek and Siemens, told UK website autoexpress:"Usually, pedestrians get a fixed amount of time to cross, but this system will keep the lights red for longer to allow everyone to cross."
Transport for London is already sold on the idea and has installed the software at busy junctions such as Victoria Station. TRL says it expects another 50 local authorities across the UK to adopt it by the end of this year.
The technology has already been shortlisted for an award at a major traffic technology expo in the Netherlands.
But drivers will be dismayed to learn that TRL is not stopping with pedestrians. Next on the agenda is cyclists. That could mean separate traffic lights for cyclists, or simply more favourable sequences.
