Smart Traffic Lights in Russia to Monitor Road Safety
These “seeing” and “hearing” devices are to manage vehicle flows on highways.
A “smart” intersection is to appear on a federal highway near Orenburg in 2026. Traffic lights equipped with artificial intelligence will be installed to analyze traffic density in real time and independently adjust signal durations. The system is expected to help eliminate congestion.
Unlike traditional devices, the new traffic lights respond flexibly to changing road conditions. The intelligent system adapts to traffic intensity and optimizes vehicle flows. The primary goal of the initiative is road safety.
“Seeing,” “Hearing,” and Communicating With Buses
Earlier, similar projects were reported at several intersections in St. Petersburg, where buses operate in coordination with traffic light control. The technology allows public transport to receive service information from road infrastructure in advance and factor it into driving decisions. In pilot mode, the system was launched on a MAZ-brand bus.
In addition, St. Petersburg has begun a large-scale rollout of smart traffic lights with adaptive audio alerts. These devices analyze street noise levels in real time and automatically adjust signal volume for pedestrians, making crossings safer and more comfortable.
These projects are setting new benchmarks for smart cities worldwide and illustrate how digital technologies can improve road safety.
