Key Takeaways
- Netivei Israel has installed roughly 170 AI‑based adaptive traffic lights at 25 representative junctions, yielding an average time saving of 25 seconds per vehicle per day.
- At high‑volume sites such as Furedeis (≈80,000 vehicles/day) the system saves ≈771 hours daily; at the Kiryat Tivon entrance junction the saving reaches 56 seconds per vehicle, or ≈679 hours per day.
- Scaling the technology to 100 junctions could generate over NIS 500 million in annual economic benefits for Israel.
- Adaptive lights use cameras and real‑time algorithms to adjust signal timing based on queue lengths up to 100 m, unlike traditional fixed‑time lights that rely on periodic traffic counts.
- Eitan Silberstein, head of the technologies unit at Netivei Israel, envisions all 750 junctions under the company’s responsibility becoming adaptive within five years, stressing that benefits accrue only when entire routes are coordinated, not isolated junctions.
Overview of Traffic Congestion and the Need for Smarter Signals
Traffic congestion in Israel continues to worsen, and without a substantial shift to public transport the problem will only intensify. Recognizing this, Netivei Israel – the National Transport Infrastructure Company – has turned to artificial intelligence to ease the burden on road users. “Traffic congestion is only increasing, and unless there is a massive switch to public transport in the coming years, the situation will only become worse,” the article notes, setting the stage for the company’s AI‑driven solution. By installing adaptive traffic lights that react to real‑time conditions, Netivei Israel aims to squeeze out valuable seconds (and minutes) from each journey, thereby reducing fuel consumption, emissions, and driver frustration.
Deployment Scope and Measured Time Savings
The pilot program encompasses 25 junctions selected to represent a variety of traffic scenarios. Across these sites, the average time saving per vehicle amounts to 25 seconds per day. While that figure may seem modest for a single car, its impact multiplies dramatically when applied to thousands of vehicles. For example, at the Furedeis junction, which sees roughly 80,000 vehicles daily, the cumulative daily saving translates to 771 hours—the equivalent of over 32 full days of travel time recovered each day. Similarly, the entrance to Kiryat Tivon records an average saving of up to 56 seconds per vehicle, yielding ≈679 hours saved daily. These numbers illustrate how even modest per‑vehicle improvements can generate substantial system‑wide benefits when scaled across busy corridors.
Economic Impact Projections
Netivei Israel extended its analysis to estimate the broader economic value of expanding the adaptive‑signal network. The company projects that deploying the technology at 100 junctions could boost the national economy by more than NIS 500 million per year. This figure accounts for reduced fuel consumption, lower vehicle wear‑and‑tear, decreased lost productivity, and environmental gains from lower emissions. The estimate underscores that investments in smart‑infrastructure can deliver returns that far exceed the initial capital outlay, making a compelling case for rapid rollout across the country’s road network.
How Adaptive Traffic Lights Work
Unlike conventional signals that follow a pre‑set timing plan based on occasional traffic counts, adaptive lights continuously sense and respond to real‑time road conditions. Cameras mounted at each intersection detect vehicles and measure queue lengths up to 100 meters from the stop line. An onboard algorithm processes this data instantly, adjusting green‑light durations to match current demand. “The system was developed over the past few years by ITC (Intelligent Traffic Control) in collaboration with the operations and maintenance division, the traffic management department, and the engineering R&D department, at Netivei Israel,” the article explains. This dynamic approach allows the signal to allocate more time to heavily congested approaches while shortening phases for lighter traffic, thereby smoothing flow and reducing stop‑and‑go cycles.
Leadership Vision and Future Expansion
Eitan Silberstein, head of the technologies unit in Netivei Israel’s traffic management department, articulates an ambitious roadmap for the technology. He states, “Our aspiration is that within five years all 750 junctions for which Netivei Israel is responsible will be adaptive.” Silberstein also highlights the cumulative effect of modest savings: “On average, a driver uses three main roads on the way to work, with five to ten junctions on each,” he adds. “We estimate that an average saving of ten minutes on each journey will amount to two working weeks over the course of a year.” Importantly, he cautions that isolated improvements are insufficient: “If I save 30 seconds at a junction, but delay a driver at the next junction, I haven’t done anything. The real leap forward will be when the entire route is adaptive.” This perspective emphasizes the need for corridor‑wide coordination rather than piecemeal upgrades.
Challenges and Considerations for Wider Adoption
While the pilot results are promising, scaling adaptive signals to hundreds of intersections presents logistical and financial hurdles. Installation requires robust camera networks, reliable data‑communication links, and sophisticated software capable of handling vast streams of real‑time information. Maintenance crews must be trained to troubleshoot both hardware and algorithmic components. Moreover, integrating adaptive lights with existing traffic‑management centers and ensuring compatibility with emergency‑vehicle pre‑emption systems are critical steps. Despite these challenges, the projected economic returns and quality‑of‑life improvements provide strong incentives for policymakers and transport authorities to prioritize funding and phased implementation.
Conclusion: A Path Toward Smarter Urban Mobility
Netivei Israel’s experience with AI‑based adaptive traffic lights demonstrates that relatively modest technological interventions can yield outsized benefits when applied at scale. The measured savings—seconds per vehicle that accumulate to hundreds of hours daily—translate into tangible economic gains, reduced emissions, and improved driver satisfaction. By aiming to convert all 750 of its junctions into adaptive signals within five years and insisting on route‑wide coordination, the company is positioning Israel at the forefront of intelligent traffic management. If successful, this model could serve as a blueprint for other nations grappling with ever‑growing congestion, proving that smarter signals are a vital component of the broader solution to urban mobility challenges.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-905643