AI traffic lights coming to a town near you

Artificial intelligence-powered traffic lights will be trialled in Queensland later this year, as researchers and councils explore whether smarter intersections can reduce congestion and improve traffic flow.

The Australian-first pilot will see AI technology deployed at a Moreton Bay intersection, with supporters claiming it could make traffic signals more responsive to real-world conditions rather than relying on traditional fixed cycles.

For decades, Australian traffic lights have relied on a phase-based system, where signals cycle through predetermined sequences after vehicles are detected by loops embedded beneath the road surface, or sometimes run off even simpler timed loops.

Researchers believe advances in artificial intelligence could offer a more sophisticated approach.

Queensland University of Technology Professor Ashish Bhaskar told ABC News that cameras and AI could provide significantly greater visibility of what is happening at an intersection.

"Now you have more knowledge, you have more visibility of what is happening at the intersection," he said.

Rather than simply reacting to vehicles waiting at the lights, the technology could make proactive decisions based on demand from cars, buses, cyclists and pedestrians.

Unlike conventional traffic lights, the AI system does not rely on a fixed cycle.

Instead, signal combinations are determined in real time according to traffic conditions, based on sensory hardware such as cameras.

The trial will take place at the intersection of Moreton Parade and Paper Avenue in Petrie, north of Brisbane and kicks off in September 2026.

Moreton Bay Council says cameras will identify road users, then traffic controllers and AI software will calculate the most effective signal sequence.

The technology is supplied by Austrian company SWARCO and is already operating in parts of Europe, including Denmark.

International trials have shown promising results. In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, an AI traffic management system developed by Carnegie Mellon University was reported to have reduced average travel times by 25 per cent while cutting vehicle idling time by up to 40 per cent.

However, not everyone is convinced dramatic gains can be achieved from a single intersection alone.

University of Sydney transport engineering associate professor Mohsen Ramezani told ABC News the real challenge lies in coordinating multiple closely spaced intersections across busy urban areas.

"We can equip an intersection with heaps of sensors," he said.

"But it's the decision-making … that's the smartness that still needs to be improved."

The Moreton Bay trial is expected to begin later this year and continue until early 2029, with council planners comparing traffic conditions before and after deployment to measure its effectiveness.

Meanwhile, Brisbane City Council is preparing a broader $15 million AI traffic management trial that aims to coordinate entire road corridors rather than individual intersections.

If the technology proves successful, AI-powered traffic lights could eventually become a common feature on Australian roads, potentially changing the way cities manage increasing traffic volumes and urban growth.

Join the conversation at our Facebook page
Or email us at editor@carsales.com.au