Sensors are to be used to track cars’ movements around cities to control traffic lights and cut congestion. York is believed to be the first city in Britain to use high-tech beacons that can detect drivers’ mobile phones and signals from vehicles themselves to monitor traffic flows. A trial will be launched in June that uses six sensor sites on the A59 between the city centre and the city boundary. The sensors will be mounted on traffic lights, bollards and street signs. The information will be used to make better decisions about traffic light patterns so that traffic runs more smoothly and journey times are cut. The pilot scheme will ultimately be designed to communicate directly with driverless cars. The £3 million project, which is
York will launch a trial , expected to be the first of its kind in the UK , using six sensor sites in the city in June of this year . The sensors will detect signals from vehicles and mobile phones and the data will be used to control traffic light signals in an attempt to reduce congestion . The £ ##60 m ( $ 4.2 million ) scheme , which is funded by the Department for Transport and the National Productivity Safety Fund , will ultimately be able to communicate directly with driverless cars . The UK is amongst the worst country in western Europe for congestion .