T Map and Kakao to Display Remaining Traffic Signal Time Ahead... Seoul City Provides Real-Time Signal Information at 625 Intersections

Expecting Effects Such as Traffic Accident Prevention, Safe Driving Support, and Traffic Congestion Improvement... Enhancing User Convenience
Service Environment Implemented Through Collaboration with Police Agency and Navigation Companies After New Technology Review
Goal to Expand Service to Entire Seoul by 2024

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Seoul City announced on the 14th that it will start a traffic service that provides real-time traffic information such as the current signal color of the intersection ahead and the remaining signal time to drivers driving in the city through Tmap (T Map), Kakao, and others.

This traffic signal remaining time information service was implemented through close collaboration among related organizations including Seoul City, the National Police Agency, Tmap Mobility, and Kakao Mobility to enable citizens to intuitively understand and use the information. Seoul City and the National Police Agency conducted new technology reviews on the display method of the information so that users can easily recognize and understand the remaining time information, and navigation companies completed detailed preparations in various aspects such as seamless information transmission and reception without omission or delay, and effective screen composition.

Seoul City and the National Police Agency created an environment where users can intuitively read and understand the information by undergoing new technology reviews that allow the remaining time information to be displayed numerically on navigation systems so that users can easily recognize and reflect it in their driving. The existing “National Police Agency Traffic Signal Controller Standard Specification” regulated the signal status information to be displayed in a graphical (Bar) Percentage (%) format, but this was adjusted to allow numerical display as well.

The service coverage includes 625 intersections along 211 km of 22 major arterial roads in Seoul where central bus-only lanes are installed, covering ▲ downtown (inside the Four Major Gates) ▲ Yeouido ▲ Gangnam ▲ Sangam-dong (Autonomous Driving Pilot Zone) ▲ Yanghwa and Sinchon areas. By the end of this year, it will be expanded to 790 km and 2,312 intersections on roads with six or more lanes, and by 2024, an environment will be established where real-time remaining time information can be checked throughout Seoul.

Tmap started providing the service from the 14th and initially allows individual users to selectively use it to monitor usage trends before deciding when to offer it as a default service. Kakao Navi will provide a service that displays real-time signal information as basic information on the navigation app through an app update (Android, iOS) in the third week of March.

Seoul City expects positive effects such as the prevention and reduction of intersection accidents and the reduction of social costs by inducing a decrease in sudden acceleration and sudden braking, which are risk factors for traffic accidents at intersections, through this service. Going forward, Seoul City and navigation companies plan to provide various additional information such as pedestrian entry status at intersections, pothole information ahead, safe speed display for passing intersections, and arrival time guidance considering intersection passing time on the driving route to enhance driver convenience and traffic safety.

Baek Ho, Director of Urban Transportation Office of Seoul City, said, “To provide better traffic services to citizens, Seoul City opens public data such as intersection signal information, and the private sector utilizes this to implement citizen-experience-oriented services as an excellent case.” He added, “We will continuously cooperate with the private sector to become a ‘Smart Traffic Leading City.’”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.