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 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. A series of conversations for a smarter
planet Nobody likes traffic congestion Every year