The Italian operator of the A22 Brenner motorway, Autostrada del Brennero, is planning to install a smart traffic management system to control lorries’ speed and so the traffic itself. Part of the smart system is going to be installed into the motorway’s surface, with other component going into the lorries, reports Italian national media RAI News.
Along the motorway, signal units are to be installed every 50 to 100 meters, which are to communicate with mandatory software installed in the lorry. The speed will be regulated automatically, the accelerator and brake pedals will be pressed by the central A22 computer depending on the traffic situation, the truck driver only has to hold the steering wheel – if at all, explains RAI News.
The aim of the new technology is for the transit to roll evenly over the motorway and through the valley. Autostrada del Brennero hopes that the smart system will reduce driving and traffic jam times by 20 to 30 percent.
Controlling heavy goods traffic is an ongoing problem
The motorway via the Brenner Pass is operated by two companies, as it is on the border of Austria (compromising the A13 and then a12 motorways operated by Asfinag) and Italy (the A22, operated by Autostrada del Brennero).
Controlling heavy goods traffic through the Brenner Pass has been an aching problem for Tyrol for some years by now. While traffic has understandably decreased during the coronavirus pandemic, it has nearly bounced back to its pre-covid rate in recent times.
“We fear that the heavy traffic will soon get completely out of control,” says the president of the Italian operator of the motorway Hartmann Reichhalter to Rai News.
The Tyrol operator introduced block checks to control the number of lorries on the motorway in 2018. The outrage of lorry drivers was undeniable; there was an 80-km long traffic jam on the Bavarian side of the motorway. Neighbouring countries have opposed the measure several times ever since its introduction.
This, however, didn’t deter Tyrol from continuing the use of the traffic management system. This year, there are 36 days when the blocked control is applied.
At the moment, there isn’t more information available on the planned smart system, however, the plan raises many questions: how will the control devices be installed in trucks? How much is it going to cost? What is the evidence that the system would be safe and effective?
Anyhow, we are looking forward to learning more about the digital transformation of the Brenner Pass.
Photo credit @ Wikimedia Commons