Artificial intelligence could soon play a bigger role in managing traffic on Australian roads, with Queensland preparing to trial AI-powered traffic lights designed to respond dynamically to cars, buses, cyclists and pedestrians. The Australian-first pilot will begin at an intersection in Petrie, north of Brisbane, as councils examine whether smarter signals can reduce congestion and improve journey times.
Queensland to Trial AI-Controlled Traffic Lights
The trial will take place at the intersection of Moreton Parade and Paper Avenue in Petrie, within the City of Moreton Bay, starting in September 2026.
Unlike conventional traffic signals that generally follow predetermined phases, the new system will use cameras and artificial intelligence to assess conditions at the intersection and determine how signals should operate.
The technology is expected to identify different types of road users, including vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians, before traffic controllers and AI software calculate an appropriate sequence for the lights.
The Moreton Bay trial is scheduled to continue until early 2029, giving council planners an extended period to compare traffic conditions before and after the technology is introduced.
How AI Traffic Lights Differ From Existing Systems
Traffic signals across Australia have traditionally relied on phase-based systems. Vehicles can be detected through induction loops embedded beneath the road surface, triggering signals that operate according to predetermined sequences. Some intersections use simpler timed cycles.
Researchers believe developments in computer vision and artificial intelligence could allow traffic lights to make more sophisticated decisions based on what is actually happening around an intersection.
Queensland University of Technology Professor Ashish Bhaskar told ABC News that cameras and AI could provide a much clearer picture of traffic conditions.
“Now you have more knowledge, you have more visibility of what is happening at the intersection,” he said.
Instead of responding only when a vehicle reaches the lights, an AI-controlled system could assess demand from several types of road users and adjust signal combinations accordingly.
Cameras Will Monitor Real-Time Traffic Demand
The system being tested in Petrie will use sensory hardware, including cameras, to monitor the intersection.
Rather than operating through one fixed cycle, signal combinations can be selected in real time according to current traffic demand.
The technology is supplied by Austrian traffic technology company SWARCO and is already operating in parts of Europe, including Denmark.
The Queensland trial will examine whether the system can deliver similar benefits under Australian road conditions, where rapidly growing urban areas such as South East Queensland are facing increasing pressure on transport infrastructure.
International AI Traffic Trials Show Potential
Artificial intelligence has already been tested as a traffic management tool overseas.
In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, an AI traffic system developed by Carnegie Mellon University was reported to have reduced average travel times by 25 per cent while cutting vehicle idling times by as much as 40 per cent.
Reducing unnecessary waiting at intersections could have benefits beyond journey times. Less idling may also reduce fuel consumption and vehicle emissions, particularly along heavily congested urban routes.
However, transport experts caution that improvements achieved at one intersection may not necessarily translate into significant reductions in congestion across an entire road network.
Coordinating Multiple Intersections Remains a Challenge
University of Sydney transport engineering associate professor Mohsen Ramezani told ABC News that the more difficult task is coordinating multiple intersections positioned close together across busy metropolitan areas.
“We can equip an intersection with heaps of sensors,” he said.
“But it’s the decision-making … that’s the smartness that still needs to be improved.”
The issue is particularly important in major Australian cities, where congestion is often influenced by interactions between numerous intersections rather than problems at a single set of traffic lights.
An improvement at one junction could potentially shift queues further along the road unless neighbouring signals are coordinated effectively.
Brisbane Plans Larger $15 Million AI Traffic Trial
While Moreton Bay focuses on an individual intersection, Brisbane City Council is preparing a substantially larger AI traffic management project.
The council is planning a $15 million trial aimed at coordinating entire road corridors rather than managing individual intersections independently.
Such an approach could allow AI systems to analyse traffic conditions across a broader network and adjust multiple sets of signals together, potentially improving traffic flow through busy sections of Brisbane.
The project could provide a more significant test of whether artificial intelligence can help Australian cities deal with congestion caused by population growth and rising transport demand.
What Comes Next for AI Traffic Management in Australia
The Petrie trial will provide an early indication of whether AI-controlled traffic signals can deliver measurable improvements under everyday Australian conditions.
Moreton Bay Council will compare traffic performance before and after deployment, with the project expected to continue until early 2029.
If the Queensland trials demonstrate meaningful reductions in delays and improve traffic flow without creating problems elsewhere on the road network, AI-powered traffic lights could eventually become more common across Australia. The technology offers a potentially more flexible alternative to traditional signal cycles, although its broader success will depend on how effectively individual intersections can work together as part of increasingly complex urban transport networks.
Cory Weinberg is a contributor to Sproutwired.com, covering a wide range of topics including news, politics, business, technology, sport, entertainment and lifestyle. He focuses on delivering clear, balanced reporting that helps readers stay informed about current events and emerging developments. Cory’s work highlights relevant stories, practical insights and important issues affecting communities and industries, with an emphasis on accuracy, clarity and information that readers can trust.
