HIGH-tech systems to manage traffic, unclog roads and broadcast journey planning information to mobile phones could comes on stream in Herts over the next three years. The Intelligent Transport System (ITS) will make wider use of new technology such as s

HIGH-tech systems to manage traffic, unclog roads and broadcast journey planning information to mobile phones could comes on stream in Herts over the next three years.

The Intelligent Transport System (ITS) will make wider use of new technology such as "smart" traffic signals, vehicle tracking devices and real-time information systems.

The aim is to make it possible to comprehensively manage the county's transportation network by cutting congestion and pollution in towns, allowing buses to operate more efficiently and providing live journey planning information.

County councillor Stuart Pile, who has responsibility for highways and transport, said the new ITS should revolutionise the management and use of the transport network across the county.

He went on: "It will be some time before the whole programme is up and running as there is still work to do but the scope is enormous.

"Ultimately it will make life easier for every category of road user and help cut congestion, improve bus times, manage accident scenes and even reduce pollution in town centres."

The strategy will bring together two main areas of technology - Urban Traffic Control (UTC) which detects and manages traffic incidents, and Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) which provides real-time travel information.

The AVL system will initially be used on bus services for St Albans and three other parts of the county.