Ford Motor Company has been involved in a public-private coalition called the Crash Avoidance Metric Partnership with General Motors, Toyota and other motor companies along with road commissions over the last 13 years. Ford’s representatives announced the first “smart” intersection in the nation as the initial fruits of this collaboration. This Ford-funded intersection is located near the corporation’s headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan and has produced positive results in terms of reduced traffic incidents.
This intersection uses advanced GPS technology as well as wireless communications to provide drivers with updated traffic information. The intersection’s traffic computer maintains second-by-second maps, signal information and driving patterns that are transmitted into vehicles equipped with Ford’s GPS equipment. This interconnectivity allows a driver to avoid accidents and plan routes ahead of stoplights to avoid congestion.
Ford’s designers were able to transmit several streams of data to participating vehicles to maximize the benefits of the intersection’s GPS technology. A driver passing through the intersection would receive a digital map of a four-way stop as well as information on surrounding intersections and crosswalks. The level of detail offered within this information is mind-blowing especially the lane-specific elements of traffic maps transmitted to passing vehicles.
The major consequence of a “smart” intersection in every American city would be decreased traffic accidents. Drivers who notice erratic lane changes and irresponsible behaviors near stoplights can look ahead to alternate routes. Another consequence of Ford’s “smart” intersection is decreased consumption of fuel due to idling and frequent speed changes. The Texas Transportation Institute has stated that three billion gallons of gas were wasted in 2005 due to traffic congestion.
The further development of the “smart” intersection depends entirely on the political will of mayors, governors and Congressional representatives. These intersections will require massive public funding as well as public education campaigns about GPS equipment needed to realize the intersection’s benefits. The benefits of “smart” street design extend beyond decreased gasoline used while waiting for traffic to clear up. Emergency personnel will be able to reach accidents more quickly by taking routes that are not congested with traffic. The wear and tear on brakes accumulated over thousands of miles in stop-and-go traffic could be mitigated with “smart” intersections. We need to balance out the initial public investment in GPS-driven intersections with the myriad benefits of anticipating traffic jams.
