In Moscow, AI Is Easing Traffic Even as the Number of Cars Keeps Growing
Despite a growing vehicle fleet, traffic congestion and road accidents in Moscow are declining, driven by artificial intelligence, smarter traffic control, and alternative transportation options.
How AI Is Reshaping Traffic on Moscow’s Streets
The number of cars in the Moscow metropolitan area continues to rise, but traffic congestion is going down. According to the Moscow City News Agency, citing the press service of the Traffic Management Center (TMC), the shift is largely due to the expansion of alternative transport and the use of AI-powered traffic management, as reported by the agency.
More than nine million vehicles are now registered in Moscow and the surrounding region. In 2025, an average of 2.79 million cars traveled on the city’s roads each day. Even so, the number of days with severe congestion—rated nine points or higher—fell by 56 percent compared with 2024 and by 78 percent compared with 2019. Peak congestion levels were recorded only eight times over the year, primarily due to extreme weather conditions.
Smart Signals, Cameras, and Fewer Accidents
A key factor behind the decline in traffic and accidents is the continued development of the TMC’s intelligent transportation system. Since late 2025, real-time data from traffic lights has been shared with navigation services, allowing drivers to plan routes more effectively and avoid sudden, risky maneuvers.
During rush hours, the city’s traffic situation center switches to an enhanced operating mode. Specialists can activate so-called “green waves” on major outbound routes from the city center in the evening, coordinate road patrols in real time, and work closely with traffic police and municipal services during severe weather.
Rapid response also plays a critical role in preventing gridlock. More than 1,500 smart cameras monitor congestion in real time on major roads and in tunnels, while 36 road patrol units remain on constant standby. Over the past year, these cameras recorded more than 41 million traffic violations—6 percent fewer than the year before—suggesting that digital enforcement is having a preventative effect. Altogether, these measures helped reduce the total number of road accidents by 9 percent in 2025.
According to a 2025 study by navigation technology company TomTom, Mexico City, Dublin, Lima, and Bangkok topped the global ranking of the world’s most congested cities, where drivers spend between 140 and 160 hours a year stuck in traffic. Moscow and Saint Petersburg last appeared on that list in 2021.
The use of AI-driven infrastructure is expected to expand further. As previously reported, Russia plans to deploy additional smart traffic lights designed to monitor and improve road safety nationwide.
