PROTOTYPE
Narrative, User Journey, & Prototype
Narrative Summary
The average commute time in America is 26 minutes one-way - with this average commute time increasing to well over half an hour each way in large cities, such as New York (Reference1). With transportation being the largest contributor to greenhouse gasses in the United States (and nearly 60% of these transportation emissions being produced by small vehicles opposed to large trucks) it is clear just how much impact our daily driving regiment contributes to emissions (Reference 2). It is time that we upgrade our traffic systems to reflect our technological advances that we have made as a society. A more efficient traffic system would improve the lives of millions of Americans every day - with 64% of us driving daily and 83% of Americans driving multiple times per week, our roads and road systems are a massive part of our daily lives (Reference 4). Smart Traffic will easily integrate into the current traffic light infrastructure and into the lives of people across the globe. An integrated GPS app that allows Smart Traffic to gather location data and route traffic efficiently based on current conditions combined with a coordinated traffic light system creates a system that benefits all on the road (Reference 3). Less congested roadways will also help to reduce vehicle accidents and reduce the impact of ‘rush hour’ traffic. Additionally, Smart Traffic is suited to accommodate the inevitable shift to autonomous cars - and help ease us through the transition phase where both autonomous and non-autonomous cars are common - by creating a logical, adaptable network connecting the majority of drivers on the road (Reference 5). With Smart Traffic we can reduce commute times, increase the efficiency of traffic flow, decrease emergency response times, all while helping to save the planet.
User Journey
A traffic light is currently displaying a red light towards the south and north and a green light east and west. However, a single car is approaching from the south with no other cars in sight. The driver luckily has the Smart-Traffic app with location sharing turned on. The light's system connects with the app, senses when the driver is close, and turns the light green before the car even reaches the intersection. With the location turned on in the Smart-Traffic app, the driver's estimated travel time is an estimated 16 minutes. With the location turned off, the driver could expect to be traveling for 20 minutes. The Smart-Traffic app's location services allowed the driver to pass through the intersection without stopping, saving them 4 minutes of travel time and getting them to their location more efficiently.