We all hate being stuck in traffic, but soon drivers could be automatically pre-warned of congestion. It’s one of many innovations being discussed in Brisbane, by some of the country’s top transport gurus.

Jack Gramenz reports.

TRANSCRIPT

From the information superhighway to the Bruce Highway, connectivity could be the answer to avoiding traffic congestion.

Scott Reid, CISCO Regional Manager: “If you start to think about cars being able to interpret where the next car is and traffic lights being able to open up for emergency service’s vehicles to come through, connectivity is going to be at the centre of all that.”

The once humble automobile is now a sophisticated data machine, with sensors monitoring location, condition and even driver behaviour.

Lauren Ritchie, RACQ: “All of this is in-built in cars and we’re seeing it more and more so it really will be a place for the future.”

But what if cars could talk to each other?

Lightning McQueen, Grab from Movie “Cars”: “I can go when this road is done, that’s the deal right?”

Mater, Grab from Movie “Cars”: “That’s what they done did said.”

Andrew Somers, Mobility as a Service: “I think there’s been a realisation in Australia over the past couple of years and last year in particular that this thing is right now on our doorstep.”

At today’s Smart Cities summit, industry leaders heard how connected cars could be the key to more efficient transport and could help pave the way for driverless vehicles.

While the use of autonomous cars is still restricted by more than 700 road rules across the country, connected cars are growing in popularity, with some experts predicting by 2022, 73% of cars sold will have some form of connectivity.

But we won’t know for sure if technology will help solve congestion until a little ways down the road.

Jack Gramenz, QUT News.