Google's AI-optimized traffic lights reduce congestion — 30% fewer stops, 10% drop in emissions

Google is using artificial intelligence technology to optimize traffic lights in order to reduce congestion and lower emissions.

In a blog article posted by Google earlier this month, the technology giant announced that its early data points revealed that AI-optimized traffic lights could reduce stops by 30% and emissions by 10%.

Google's Project Green Light partnered with more than a dozen cities to improve traffic flow and reduce stop-and-go emissions. The company stated that pollution at city intersections "can be 29 times higher than on open roads," citing a 2016 paper.

"About half of the emissions at intersections comes from traffic stopping and starting, and we found that by leveraging AI we can reduce these emissions by optimizing traffic lights," Google's article said.

It noted that many traffic lights use outdated configurations because it can be expensive for cities to obtain optimization data. By improving the timing of existing traffic light plans, the company believes it can lower emissions and save fuel.

The AI technology utilizes data from Google Maps driving trends to analyze traffic patterns. It then makes timing recommendations that can be implemented by city engineers "in as little as five minutes." Ultimately, the goal is to coordinate traffic lights across several intersections, creating "waves of green lights."

"Green Light is now live in 70 intersections in 12 cities, 4 continents, from Haifa, Israel to Bangalore, India to Hamburg, Germany – and in these intersections we are able to save fuel and lower emissions for up to 30M car rides monthly," Google stated.

The tech company claims that utilizing its AI-generated recommendation can be a "high-impact way for cities to go Green" without any additional expensive hardware purchases and installations. Google is currently offering the service at no cost to its partner cities. However, there is currently a waiting list to join Green Light. Google noted it aims to add more cities to the program next year.

Google VP of Geo Sustainability Yael Maguire stated, "Early numbers indicate a potential for us to see a 30 percent reduction in stops. We believe green light is unique because it is more scalable and cost effective for cities than alternative options."

"Our AI recommendations work with existing infrastructure and traffic systems," Maguire continued. "City engineers are able to monitor the impact and see results within weeks."

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