Siemens London congestion charge technology behind 20% traffic fall in 10 years

Siemens claims the use of its technology to enforce London’s congestion charge has been critical to achieving a 20% reduction in traffic and traffic jams being cut by a third in the first 10 years of the charge being in operation. The number of vehicles being driven in London each day is now said by the company to be down by 60,000 compared to 2003. A Siemens spokesperson said: “London's congestion charge is a successful model, showing how chronically congested urban areas can get traffic moving again. Traf
February 18, 2013 Read time: 2 mins
Siemens press picture
1134 Siemens claims the use of its technology to enforce London’s congestion charge has been critical to achieving a 20% reduction in traffic and traffic jams being cut by a third in the first 10 years of the charge being in operation.

The number of vehicles being driven in London each day is now said by the company to be down by 60,000 compared to 2003.

A Siemens spokesperson said: “London's congestion charge is a successful model, showing how chronically congested urban areas can get traffic moving again. Traffic jams are reduced, public transport speeded up, and the quality of air improved. With the congestion charge system, pollution in central London has fallen by 150,000tonnes of CO2 annually.

“Siemens technology makes London's congestion charge possible: Intelligent video systems register license plates by means of Video Scene Analysis and, following a check against a database, recognise whether the congestion charge has been paid.”

Picture caption: Siemens press picture – Siemens has played a leading role in London’s 10-year-old congestion charge network

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Urban traffic control system upgrade
    February 6, 2012
    Nottingham city in central England has upgraded its Urban Traffic Control (UTC) system to PC SCOOT, supplied and installed by Siemens, to further improve the management of the traffic network around the city. PC SCOOT will initially monitor over 450 junctions and all major routes within Nottingham, with the aim of reducing congestion and CO2 emissions and improving journey times.
    Read More
  • Key deals show strength of Tolling solutions sector
    September 26, 2013
    The world’s leading tolling solution providers have achieved significant deals in recent months emphasising the importance of their latest and proven technology. Guy Woodford reports Kapsch TrafficCom North America (Kapsch), part of Kapsch TrafficCom Group, has been awarded a five-year US$30 million contract by Canadian Tolling Company International (Cantoll). The contract will see the leading tolling technology manufacturer supply its next generation TDMA V6 Interior Transponder, also known as an onboar
    Read More
  • Success of toll road operators' conference
    July 12, 2012
    The 37th ASECAP Annual Study and Information Days held in Krakow, Poland, gathered some 300 road transport CEOs, experts and government decision-makers making the event "a huge success." Patrick Smith reports Toll road operators from across Europe have met to discuss the state of their businesses in the current economic climate and how to tackle it. Fabrizio Palenzona, the outgoing President of ASECAP (the European professional Association of Operators of Toll Road Infrastructures) and president of AISCAT (
    Read More
  • New junction designs for Nairobi to cut congestion
    June 30, 2014
    New junctions could cut chronic congestion in Kenyan capital Nairobi – Shem Oirere reports Kenya plans to replace all T-junctions in the country’s capital Nairobi with acceleration and deceleration lanes to address a crippling vehicle traffic regime estimated to consume $580,000 daily. “We will replace the junctions with acceleration and deceleration lanes,” said John Mosonik, the principal secretary in Kenya’s ministry of transport. He said the acceleration lanes, which allow cars joining the main road t
    Read More

Highlighted Content