A recent study from Southern Methodist University (SMU) indicates that the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) area could see a significant reduction in traffic congestion by the year 2045 with the introduction of autonomous vehicles. This research counters earlier concerns about potential traffic disruptions linked to this technology.
Led by SMU civil and environmental professor Khaled Abdelghany, the study utilized a travel model from the North Central Texas Council of Governments. It explored the effects of connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs) under various scenarios, including the presence of 25%, 50%, and 100% driverless vehicles on major thoroughfares such as U.S. 75 and Interstate 635.
Abdelghany pointed out that traffic congestion is affected by factors like speed variability and stop-and-go driving, which can impede flow efficiency. He proposed that autonomous vehicles could mitigate these issues by promoting smoother driving patterns. The study, published in the Journal of Urban Technology, found that with a full fleet of driverless vehicles, traffic delays could decrease by 33% and daily vehicle-hours traveled could drop by at least 19% as commuters might choose to live farther from their workplaces.
The research team included experts from the Texas Transportation Institute and Kittelson & Associates, Inc. While the findings offer insight into the potential benefits of autonomous vehicles in the DFW region, challenges related to their early implementation remain a concern.
Dallas is about 25 miles south of Frisco.
