The UK Government has invested £10m of the taxpayers money into a new digital scheme which will see the country’s network of roadworks integrated in satnav apps such as Google Maps and Waze.
The new technology will make it easier for drivers to plan their journeys around the roadwork hotspots and help them get to their destinations quicker. The average UK motorist currently spends 32 hours a week stuck in traffic jams.
Roads Minister Jesse Norman said: “Roadworks can often be frustrating for motorists, especially when they cause hold-ups at busy times and delay journeys.
“We want to reduce this disruption and delay, and Street Manager is just one of a number of actions we are taking so that local authorities and utility companies can better plan and manage their roadworks.
“The data opened up by this new digital service should enable motorists to plan their journeys better, so they can avoid works and get to their destinations more easily.”
It’s thought the technology could be accessed by popular travel apps such as Google Maps and Waze, allowing them to tap into the information available and better inform drivers. Waze’s information is currently crowdsourced by users, whilst Google Maps uses data provided by mobile phones.
The system, which is called Street Manager, will replace an dated system which is currently provided by local authorities and utility companies. There are up to 2.5 million roadworks taking place in England every year and better advice on where and when these roadworks take place will help speed up the road network.