Moscow’s Navigation App Now Shows Real-Time Traffic Light Signals

A new feature developed by the city’s Traffic Management Center and Yandex integrates traffic light data into navigation routes, accounting for real-time signal changes to improve road safety and traffic flow.

Moscow’s Traffic Management Center, together with Yandex, has launched a joint project that brings traffic light information directly into the city’s navigation app. When building a route, the system factors in the time remaining before a light changes, according to Interfax citing the CMTD press service.

Drivers can now see the current signal color at intersections across central Moscow. The app displays real-time traffic light status inside the Garden Ring and in city boroughs such as Savyolovsky, Aeroport, Orekhovo-Borisovo, Maryino, and Tsaritsyno.

Beyond showing the colors of every traffic light along the way, the app also indicates how many seconds remain until the signal changes. The technology is synchronized with smart traffic lights equipped with countdown timers.

If a driver is approaching too quickly toward a red light, the app issues an audio warning. When the signal changes, the system notifies the driver as well. The feature is designed to help motorists brake in time and reduce the risk of accidents.

The system also integrates signal timing into overall route planning. For example, if a destination lies just beyond a traffic light, the travel time estimate is extended to account for the stop.

In the future, the developers plan to introduce a “green wave” feature, allowing the app to calculate routes with the fewest possible red lights.