Honda App Cuts Traffic Jams, Boosts Fuel Efficiency 20%

Honda Motor Co. has developed a smartphone app it says can help drivers get in sync on crowded highways, thus reducing congestion and improving the fuel economy of all vehicles in the vicinity.

The system monitors a car's acceleration and deceleration patterns to determine whether they are likely to disrupt traffic flow. The app displays a green screen when the pattern is normal and blue when it isn't.

Honda recently tested two versions of the technology in a series of road tests in Indonesia. The stand-alone system simply looks for smooth driving and moderate acceleration and braking. The more sophisticated interactive version connects smart phones in multiple cars to a central server and coordinates its driving advice across the entire group.

Results show the stand-alone and interactive systems can increase average vehicle speed and boost the efficiency of participating cars by 20% and 22%, respectively. Honda says the interactive system is more effective at moderating drastic changes in vehicle speed that cause congestion.

Honda researchers are working on other ways to coach drivers, including audio and vibration alerts.