Milton Keynes to Launch AI-Controlled Smart Traffic Lights in 2018
A £3 million project will see over 2,500 cameras and AI systems deployed across Milton Keynes, aiming to reduce congestion by reacting to real-time traffic conditions.
Milton Keynes is set to become the first UK town to roll out artificial intelligence-driven smart traffic lights in 2018, with a £3 million investment targeting congestion on its urban roads. The system, developed by London-based Vivacity Labs, will use more than 2,500 cameras to monitor real-time traffic and adjust light sequences automatically.
Unlike current systems that rely on fixed schedules or require manual monitoring, the new AI platform is designed to detect congestion and dynamically alter the timing of lights to keep vehicles moving. At present, traffic lights in most UK cities can only be set to prioritise certain roads at specific times, with little ability to respond to actual conditions. Vivacity Labs' technology aims to eliminate this limitation by using AI to interpret traffic flows directly from camera feeds.
How the system works
The installation will see thousands of cameras positioned across Milton Keynes, feeding live data to the AI system. The cameras can identify and report road usage, removing the need for manual traffic counting and reducing the risk of human error. The AI then processes this data and adjusts the traffic light sequences to respond to changing traffic patterns throughout the day.
Potential for future integration
Vivacity Labs has indicated that future upgrades could allow the system to communicate directly with connected and autonomous vehicles, providing real-time road status updates to drivers or onboard computers. While this level of integration is not part of the initial deployment, it reflects a broader move towards smarter, more connected urban infrastructure in the UK.
If successful, the Milton Keynes trial could provide a model for other UK towns and cities looking to tackle congestion with advanced technology. The project highlights a shift from traditional, manually managed traffic systems towards data-driven, adaptive solutions for urban mobility.
