Israel Deploys AI-Powered Smart Traffic Lights Saving Drivers Two Work Weeks Annually

The Israeli Ministry of Transportation and Netivei Israel have installed approximately 170 AI-based adaptive traffic lights on intercity roads to reduce driver wait times and improve traffic flow. New data from a representative sample of 25 intersections shows that these smart signals cut vehicle queue times by an average of 400 vehicle-hours daily per intersection, saving drivers about 10 minutes per trip. This time savings accumulates to roughly two work weeks annually per driver. When expanded to 100 intersections, the system is projected to generate economic benefits exceeding 500 million shekels per year, based on the 2021 PRAT procedure used by the Ministry of Transportation and Ministry of Finance for cost-benefit analysis.

Unlike traditional traffic lights operating on fixed schedules, the adaptive system uses cameras and AI-powered computer vision to monitor real-time traffic demand and queue lengths up to hundreds of meters from the intersection. The algorithm dynamically adjusts green light durations to optimize traffic flow and better utilize existing infrastructure. The technology was developed by ITC in close collaboration with Netivei Israel’s operations, traffic management, and R&D divisions.

Specific intersections demonstrate significant improvements: at the Foridis junction, the system saves about 800 vehicle-hours daily, while at the entrance to Kiryat Tivon, crossing times are reduced by up to 56 seconds per vehicle. These incremental gains accumulate substantially given the tens of thousands of vehicles passing daily. The next phase involves coordinating multiple intersections along traffic corridors to operate adaptively as a network, further enhancing efficiency and safety.

Eitan Zilberstein, head of technology at Netivei Israel’s traffic management division, envisions that within five years all 750 signalized intersections under the company’s responsibility will be adaptive and interconnected. He emphasizes a careful, monitored rollout rather than rapid, unchecked deployment, ensuring continuous evaluation and improvement of each new smart traffic light’s impact on traffic. With drivers typically encountering 3 traffic corridors and 5 to 10 intersections per commute, the cumulative time savings could reach 10 minutes per trip, equating to two work weeks saved annually per driver.