Computers Could Help Clear Traffic Jams

" Crunching data gathered by devices called loop detectors, already buried at intersections and on most urban highways, computer algorithms written by Benjamin Coifman, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Ohio State University, were able to determine that a traffic jam was forming within three and half minutes after vehicles began to slow. During tests, the software helped California road crews recognize the onset of a traffic jam three times faster than without the application, according to Coifman. The extra time helped the crews clear accidents and restore traffic flow before other drivers could be delayed."

Thanks to Abhijeet Chavan