Queensland council becomes first in Australia to use AI traffic lights

A Queensland council has given the green light to a surprising new use of artificial intelligence technology.

In what is believed to be a first in Australia, the City of Moreton Bay has agreed to add AI-powered traffic lights to its intersections.

The latest technology will create new queues at junctions in a bid to reduce the time people spend sitting at red lights.

Currently, the lights are marshaled using a system known as a “first come, first served” basis that has been in place since the 1980s.

However, artificial intelligence signals will work on a “motion-based” control system without being tied to a specific order.

Mayor Peter Flannery said the change promises to be a “game changer”.

“We are excited to be the first in Australia to trial the technology, which has real potential to improve traffic flow around our road network,” he said.

“The technology effectively uses both artificial intelligence and advanced algorithms to inform optimized traffic operations under a new traffic management approach.

“This means that higher vehicle traffic flows, including public transport, can be dynamically prioritized throughout the day.”

This will potentially mean that if a particular route has a heavier flow of traffic on a particular day, the sequence can be adjusted to help relieve congestion.

“It has the potential to significantly reduce the time drivers spend needlessly sitting at red lights, which is often restricted by outdated traffic control methods, and this can be extremely frustrating, especially when there are no cars in sight,” Mr Flannery added.

“This offers the opportunity to reduce emissions because vehicles are less idle at traffic lights.”

The new traffic lights will first be installed at the junction of Moreton Parade and Paper Ave in Petrie later this year.

If successful, the municipality will test it at more complex junctions on the road network.