Tweaking traffic lights could save millions of hours lost to backed up traffic, a student project shows.

Traffic light tweaks can prevent tailbacks

21. aug. 2009 14.19 English

The scenario is familiar. Rush hour tailbacks on roads when we are going to work. And again in the afternoon, going home.

But things could change if state and municipal authorities learn how to tweak traffic lights appropriately.

Such tweaks could save motorists up to one fifth of the time spent stuck in traffic. So there is both time and money to be saved, and other perks include increased road safety and benefits to the environment.

Traffic is developing
Seven million hours lost to stuck traffic. 17 million litres of petrol wasted. These may be saved if Danish traffic lights are optimized.

This is the conclusion of a student project from the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), and the think tank of engineering journal Ingeniøren agrees.

The trouble is that traffic develops, while the tweaking of traffic lights does not, says Filip Zibrandtsen, who is project manager in consultancy company Rambøll, and a member of the think tank.

Using standard software and traffic traffic counts, the students have coordinated lights at Folehaven in Valby, and increased the morning rush hour passability by 15-20 percent.