TAMPA, Fla. — A recent study with the University of South Florida found that outdated traffic lights may be the reason drivers wait for an extended period at intersections in Florida.

Jeff Brandes, a former senator and president of the nonprofit Florida Policy Project, is working to improve the lives of Floridians.

“We’ve all sat at traffic lights, waiting for them to change. With nobody else around, wondering why things aren’t moving faster,” Brandes said.

Their recent study with USF called Best Practices: Signalized Intersection Improvements, found many of the state’s traffic lights are outdated.

“A lot of our infrastructure and architecture is built on 1960s technology. Basically, it’s the same as your kitchen timer. It’s a standard timer. But we know that traffic evolves over time,” Brandes said.

What You Need To Know

  • A new study by the Florida Policy Project shows traffic signals are outdated in Florida

  • Study showed a higher average wait time at lights than the rest of the country

  • Artificial intelligence could help update traffic lights

Researchers looked at 16,000 intersections across Florida.

They found the average traffic delay was 20.4 seconds. That’s compared to the national average of 18.1.

The report offered a solution — traffic signals that use artificial intelligence instead of standard timers.

“Today we have this machine learning technology. We have the censors available. We have the ability to have these conversations now,” Brandes said.

Local governments like Hillsborough County are now using AI to help manage intersections, but nothing that can directly change traffic lights.

Brandes says the AI traffic lights are used in other parts of the country. They could also be a modest investment compared to adding lanes or building new roads to help move traffic.

“We’ve got to be thinking beyond more lanes and optimizing our traffic flow wherever we can so we’re not stuck at the light,” Brandes said.

That’s why he is pushing state lawmakers to consider more funding or incentives for local governments to get traffic signals updated.

“This is an emerging technology. And the great news is, traffic signals will never get worse. With this tech, they will only get better over time,” Brandes said.

The report also showed that AI traffic lights can make intersections safer for drivers and pedestrians.