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3. Ontario, Canada
Ontario uses a system called COMPASS, also referred to as the Freeway Traffic
Management System, to regulate the flow of traffic on the main highways leading
to the city centre and to the city itself. COMPASS uses traffic cameras to detect the
approximate speed and density of traffic flow. This data is then sent to a central computer
at the Ministry of Transportation in the Ontario office and analysed by operators, who
also view the feeds from sensors placed under the highways. Therefore, if any collisions,
closures or detours happen, the changeable message signs then display messages to
motorists on the highways, advising them about traffic flow. [19]
4. Dresden, Germany
It is better for the environment if trams and cars do not have to stop so often at
traffic lights. That is why in some cities in Germany they have implemented the “green
wave” signals. Any vehicle travelling along with the recommended speed will encounter
a continuous series of green lights and not have to stop at intersections. This allows
higher traffic loads and reduces noise and fuel consumption of vehicles by 20%. It also
controls the speed of traffic in urban areas and it gives pedestrians more time to cross
at crossings.
Furthermore, the green wave decreases traffic the best when it is used in only one
driving direction. To increase the effectiveness, it is common to apply the green wave
in the morning hours on the main street that goes into the city centre to avoid waiting
times when driving to work. And in the afternoon the green wave is applied to the main
street leading back to the suburbs. [20]
Another solution for reducing the time waiting on red lights and to lower the
emissions from traffic is applied, for instance, in the trams in Dresden. The drivers
have a smartphone, which gives them driving instructions based on the information
traffic lights send them. That means the driver receives information about how slow
or fast he or she has to drive to arrive at a green light. If the driver complies with the
instructions the trams will save around 20% of their fuel consumption. Furthermore,
a communicating light network is not expensive to implement. [4]
Moreover, in Hamburg, there is a two-lane connection road between the city
centre and the northern part of the city named “Sierichstrasse”, that changes the driving
direction depending on the time of day. Between 4 am and 12 am the two-lane street
goes into the city centre and from 12 am to 4 am it changes into two outbound lanes
with the result of less congestion. [11]
7.7.4 Summary
The city of Wroclaw faces a typical problem of many large cities: heavy traffic.
There are many ways to prevent this problem and to make the cities as effective as
possible. There should be a balanced mix of every type of approach. The current
research shows that the average speed of motor vehicles moving within the boundaries
of Wroclaw amounts to 26 km/h. Unfortunately, this is not a factor that contributes to
improving the air pollution. The mere fact that a very large number of passenger vehicles