The traffic signal you're approaching could be talking to your vehicle. It's part of an initiative by Georgia's Department of Transportation to employ some futuristic options to help ease congestion and increase safety on our roads.
The "talking traffic lights" are installed all over explained GDOT's operations director John Hibbard. "We are installing, in fact we've installed over 300 of them; traffic signal technology that can communicate, wirelessly [radio] with suitably equipped cars."
As part of what the signal is communicating to these vehicles is information about the lights and intersection. "We're transmitting information about how long will the light stay green and how fast do you have to drive to get through that light" said Hibbard.
Many of these traffic signals are in the downtown and midtown area "Our first corridor was Ponce de Leon. We've since then added Moreland. One of our first corridors was also Peachtree in that Lennox going up to Brookhaven area." explained Hibbard.
But GDOT just doesn't want to leave it there. "The future is really even much more than just giving you and me that conformation or information about the traffic signal." Hibbard says they're hoping to take it to the next level with the Smart Vehicle Challenge. That's a contest of sorts where Technology Companies from around the globe can" compete to translate GDOT traffic light data into safety applications that can be used to support autonomous vehicles of the future. The winning team will receive $75,000 to further develop the application while working alongside GDOT’s technology and transportation leadership team." according to a press release.
“We view this as an exciting opportunity to tap the ingenuity and know-how of technology companies with a vision that aligns with our own,” Hibbard added.
To RSVP to the networking event, register your IT company to participate in the tech challenge, or showcase your organization in the mobility marketplace, please visit talking traffic lights.com