Using Technology to Eliminate Traffic Congestion

Being stuck in traffic is frustrating. Congestion not only wastes our time, it contributes to increased fuel consumption, pollution, and health problems. The economic damage is estimated to globally exceed $1 trillion each year. In 2016, the average U.S. driver spent 42 hours in congestion during peak hours; in Los Angeles that average was 104 hours. Today, the average traffic speed in central Manhattan is that of a brisk walk, 7.6 km/h, down from 10.5 km/h five years ago. Walking often seems the only reliable way to arrive on time. Cities around the world are experiencing comparable congestion levels, and congestion’s social costs are growing rapidly almost everywhere due to growing populations and ongoing urbanization. Under existing policies, traffic will inevitably end in crisis.