Dutch Test Shows How Connected Cars Can Ease Traffic Flow

A project in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, shows that road officials can identify and resolve traffic problems faster when vehicles share their on-road experiences with a central traffic authority.

The test by IBM and NXP Semiconductors used a fleet of 200 specially equipped cars that automatically reported such issues as icy roads, potholes, accidents and variations in traffic density.

IBM says the vehicles reported 48,000 "incidents" and 1.8 billion sensor signals in six months. Incoming data was managed and analyzed by IBM's SmartCloud Enterprise service. The system also managed demand on the computer capacity required to process the data, which can spike during rush hour or when an accident occurs.

Results enabled road officials to respond almost immediately to dangerous road conditions or changes in traffic congestion by dispatching emergency response teams or road repair crews.

The test also successfully demonstrated a mobile app for smartphones and navigation systems that is designed to alert participating drivers to hazards in their vicinity. The app also can tell the driver of a disabled car the location of the nearest road assistance vehicle.

IBM and NXP say the system could be expanded to provide drivers with personalized routing and detour instructions to help ease traffic jams.