What if motorways were converted into Digital Roads so you could predict any potential issues for your trip? Could these hinder drivers as much as they help? In this article, we will examine what a Digital Road actually entails, including the potential positives and negatives that come with adding technology to roads. Technology is becoming a big talking point when buying a car. This ranges from parking assistance that helps guide the car into a space to new plug-in hybrid technologies that many cars such as used Mazda CX-5 have. But are these digital evolutions only happening to our vehicles, or are we seeing improvements being made to roads and motorways too? The concept of Digital Roads comes courtesy of National Highways, formerly known as Highways England. To improve the efficiency of journeys on the motorway, they are looking to introduce technology that provides drivers with the most up-to-date information possible. The major step to achieve this is moving all their data onto cloud servers. Centralising this to a more accessible platform will aid data collection. Making the input of data a simpler process means that the information that is output to drivers and motorists will improve. This is a plan that has the target of keeping innovations operational with their own informational webpage and plans for 2025. Adding this new technology means that National Highways will be able to share accurate updates on their plans for maintenance of the roads, delays, and other congestions with motorists. As well as information that can be constantly updated, this new system will utilise artificial intelligence to forecast potential issues and conditions around a full day in advance. 18 AFTERMARKET JUNE 2023 BUSINESS www.aftermarketonline.net DIGITAL ROADS: WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD? Motorparks explores the concept of digital roads; If technological advancements and improvements are made to vehicles, what about motorways?
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