Wait. New traffic lights will give priority to cyclists over cars thanks to the use of artificial intelligence
Longer waiting times for cars but significantly smoother passage for cyclists – this is exactly what the new traffic lights using artificial intelligence, which are gradually being introduced in the United Kingdom, should bring. However, according to some opinions, the prioritization of cyclists will only cause further friction between them and car drivers.
In the United Kingdom, a new initiative is being introduced into the transport infrastructure that could significantly change daily urban mobility – traffic lights using artificial intelligence to prioritize cyclists and pedestrians over personal vehicles. This move is part of the current trend to promote greener and more sustainable modes of transport, aiming to reduce traffic congestion, improve air quality, and protect more vulnerable road users. However, this change could significantly exacerbate existing conflicts between cyclists and car drivers.
Technological Innovation That Will Increase Friction
The new traffic lights are equipped with advanced artificial intelligence algorithms that analyze real-time data, such as traffic density, cyclist and pedestrian movement, and adjust the red and green light lengths accordingly. Based on this information, the lights prioritize cyclists and pedestrians over personal vehicles, meaning that car traffic will have to wait longer in some cases than before.
For drivers, this could be an unpleasant change, especially at a time when various other regulations are being introduced, such as low-emission zones or speed restrictions in cities. A system that at first glance looks like a win for sustainable transportation may, from the perspective of car drivers, provoke frustration, especially if it prolongs their travel times.
Increased tension is expected especially in busy urban areas where there are already conflicts between cyclists and drivers. While cyclists will benefit from smoother passage through intersections, drivers may feel disadvantaged. Many of them already perceive measures to protect cyclists as disproportionate and criticize them for restricting car traffic.
In this context, there are also increasing calls for greater responsibility from cyclists. Some politicians even propose that cyclists should have registration plates or licenses, similar to car drivers, to be better monitored and possibly penalized for offenses. This proposal is partly in response to the growing number of complaints about dangerous behavior by some cyclists who ignore traffic regulations, which critics say contributes to increasing road tension.
Despite these potential complications, it is clear that artificial intelligence technologies have the potential to significantly improve the flow and safety of road traffic. However, experts warn that ways must be found to harmonize the needs of all road users. To prevent the escalation of tensions between cyclists and drivers, it will be crucial to find a balanced approach that ensures safety and efficiency for everyone – from car drivers to cyclists and pedestrians.
The new traffic lights in the United Kingdom represent one of many steps towards sustainable urban transport, but they also show that progress in technology and ecology can have unintended consequences. It will be interesting to see how these measures will play out in practice and whether conflicts arising from this change can be mitigated.
