The end ofurban traffic congestion?
A recent feature in Highways Magazine July/August 2026 highlights SimplifaiSystems, a UK technology pioneer using autonomic AI to dynamicallymanage traffic networks without human intervention.
Spun out ofHuddersfield University in 2012 by Keith McCabe and Professor Lee McCluskey,Simplifai’s software integrates directly with existing traffic hardware tooptimize signal priorities in real time.
Here are thekey takeaways from the article:
- Massive Journey Time Reductions: A 2024 trial on Glasgow’s Pollokshaws Road managing up to 150 micro-routes improved bus journey times by up to 50%.
- Blackpool Smart Traffic Corridor: Funded via the Department for Transport’s £567k Green Light Fund, the system upgrades signals at 32 busy locations across five corridors, targeting a 10% to 12% increase in traffic throughput and reduced emissions.
- Two-Part AI Technology: Combines autonomic goal-based AI (which balances thousands of localized micro-goals, such as specific corridor travel times) with machine learning (which evaluates external variables like weather, modal splits, and traffic volumes for incident detection).
- Global Expansion: With early support from Innovate UK and Transport for Greater Manchester, Simplifai is expanding into Sheffield and eyeing global opportunities after securing a patent in China.
By enabling local councils to roll out dynamic traffic management on existinginfrastructure, the technology offers a practical, scalable route towardcongestion-free cities.
