Ford has undertaken trials of new connected car technology that could remove the problem of stop-start traffic and free up roads worldwide.
The system, called Intersection Priority Management (IPM), is being showcased on the streets of Milton Keynes this week, in a bid by Ford to show how the traffic-easing technology has genuine real-world potential.
IPM uses vehicle-to-vehicle communications to suggest optimum travelling speeds. It can even allow cars to pass by one another at junctions without the need to stop.
Each car is capable of broadcasting its location, as well as its direction of travel and speed. The on-board systems identify an upcoming junction while assessing the approach speeds of nearby vehicles simultaneously. The car can then pick an optimum speed so that each car can pass through safely.
Christian Ress, supervisor for driver assist technologies at Ford Research and Advanced Engineering, said: “We know that intersections and traffic lights can be a real bugbear for many drivers.
“With the connected car technology we have been demonstrating this week, we envisage a world where vehicles are more aware of each other and their environment, enabling intelligent co-operation and collaboration on the roads – and around junctions.”
The showcase of technology was part of the government-funded UK Autodrive project, which looks to improve traffic flow as well as increasing safety and efficiency.
Other technologies displayed were Collaborative Parking, which uses a crowd-sourced map of a car park to display available spaces, as well as Emergency Vehicle Warning, which can alert drivers to the location and proximity of approaching emergency services vehicles.