Intelligent Transportation Systems which parts of the world actually mastered it, and how much room for improvement? (highway, major)

[citizensadvocate]

There was an ad in China regarding the rescue of a child*who was stuck in traffic, and transferring him to an ambulance which was also stuck would be too late. But they could determine the exact location of both vehicles and the traffic conditions on the route between them. Apparently they show them arranging different methods including signal priority and smart routing and the kid got to the hospital in time. It was impressive but I am not sure how realistic it is.*Sounds very back to the future right?

Apparently this system had been talked about for years and*arn't*new at all. And isn't just a 21st century rocket science idea. In fact planning stages and earliest roll outs of ITS systems occurred as early as 1960s. I.e Buena Park adopted opticom in all its modern traffic signals throughout the city in 1966. Which allowed first responders to control them. However the system was not very good and received criticism of how it messes up signal programming*which surrounding cities loathe to follow suit until much later. I.e I heard neighboring Anaheim didn't adopt their own until the 2010s.*

Apparently in the age when Self driving if not floating/flying cars should had been the norm but somehow isnt. Our traffic control systems seem relatively antiquated*and still slow to adopt. Yep, even in the most advanced tech embracing countries in the world i.e east Asia. I.e Japanese responders still have to request drivers via prerecorded*intercom PA messages to allow them proceed past a red light, despite how advanced Japan is they don't change the light for them. However progress had been made these days. Though its often on a city to city patchwork of experimentations that its complicated by a mess of juristications operating different roads that cross each other.. Which I question whether having so many entities and jurisdictions in charge of transportation projects help or hurt development as opposed to having one jurisdiction*handle it all? Things do get particularly confusing for all entities when city, county, and state roads intersect each other.*The situation is particulalry bad in places like LA county or Santa Clara County where we have state highways, county expressways, and cities streets crisscrossing each other. Apparently a growing number of cities like San Jose that once found it mission impossible, now has GPS transmittors on vehicles to route them based on traffic and control signal lights however they are powerless when they encounter traffic systems operated by the county which operates busy large ten lane intersections or another city.

One would think before we think of flying or fully self driving cars wouldn't we first try to improve what we have first? I.e timing the lights properly to account for changing traffic flow and extraordinary situations i.e to allow a parade, procession, or motorcade to stay together, using existing technology to keeping lights on synchronized green wave mode for these groups and first responders as opposed to giving them the green lights separately at each intersection, or confusing traffic by allowing the following vehicles to disregard the red with or without an escort or blocker. I.e not change the lights until the last vehicle escort exits the intersection? And with least disruption to the traffic pattern? Many cities can already do traffic pattern synchronized green lights, I always ask couldn't they keep the already on green lights stay green for them until the last responder or member of a motorcade/procession exits the intersection**I.e having a the monitoring center watch the screen. Apparently I heard such system is called Dynamic Route Clearance.*

There are also plenty of room for improvement for traffic patterns, freight movement, and public transit. I.e when unplanned road closures and often*even planned road closures*causes a traffic diversion nightmare for drivers, pedestrians, and transit riders alike especially disabled people. And we are still quite a long ways away from having true level 5 autonomous vehicles that*can react to all real life situations. One that can summon on its own to fuel/charging stations when not in use.*

What do you think how the world's ITS systems can improve before we have level 5 autonomous vehicles or flying/hovering vehicles the norm? Which is another major project of its own.
Don't even get me started about parking.

Edit: City to city or county does have its advantage though as transportation officials can learn from each cities achievements and mistakes and bugs to help make better systems.