New smart traffic system undergoing trials

The traffic police department of the Shanghai Public Security Bureau is developing an intelligent traffic light system that can automatically adjust its signal timings according to the road situation, Eastday.com reported on Wednesday.

The move will likely be welcomed by the city's residents, who have regularly complained that the current fixed system does not solve the traffic congestion problem during peak hours.

According to the authorities, the new system would be based on a cloud computing platform that would provide eight instead of the current four timing configurations, which would in turn improve the management of road situations. This new system would also be able to detect traffic flow and even identify traffic violations.

Authorities are currently testing the new system at 13 intersections within the Puxi Expo Site. According to the Shanghai traffic police department, the system has increased the average speed of vehicles in the pilot zone by 10 percent while reducing the congestion index and travel time by 15 and 8 percent respectively.