There’s new technology coming to town to make it easier to get to and from work and around town. Today the Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority will demonstrate how it’s working on connected vehicles to make driving safer.
The Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority and its partners will show how connected vehicle technology can help prevent crashes between cars, transit vehicles and even pedestrians.
Here’s how it works: technology in the vehicle can determine if traffic signals ahead are red or green. That information can help the driver slow down or speed up as they approach.
“It also allows to give some harmonized speed recommendation in order to have the traffic flowing in a smooth fashion throughout the city with minimized stops,” said Siemens Executive Marcus Welz.
The software will likely be built into future vehicles or drivers can put it in their existing cars. The technology will also have the capability of warning drivers about pedestrians and bicyclists making roads safer for everyone.
“It’s a technology where the US DOT says it can prevent 80 percent of unimpaired vehicle accidents,” said Welz.
Expressway leaders like the idea of a using the technology, instead of constantly rebuilding and redeveloping highways and roads. 40 intersections in the city should be equipped with the technology.
The demonstration today will be done at street cars as well as HART buses. In the past, cars have been tested.