ITS UK is launching a new campaign – Stuck on Red – to highlight the urgent need to renew the UK’s traffic signals infrastructure.

The UK’s traffic technology estate is ageing. 15,000 traffic signals in England are obsolete, and, without action, that number will hit 18,000 in the next two years – or 61% of all signals.

Public policy has often focused on road maintenance, but the UK faces a major issue in managing its technology infrastructure too. We may know about potholes, but across the UK we have a dott-hole problem too: digitally obsolescent traffic technology.

This is an issue which poses challenges to road safety, congestion, sustainability, cyber resilience and the ability of the UK transport system to prepare for new technology like AI and automated vehicles.

Stuck on Red, a campaign led by ITS UK on behalf of the sector, is calling for the UK Government to deliver a renewal programme to support highway authorities in making their traffic technology fit for the future.

The state of traffic infrastructure

As of January 2026, 15,000 traffic signal controllers in England are obsolete (left map), just over half the total estate.  If no action is taken, this figure goes up to 18,000 expired controllers (right map), or 61% of the total estate, in two years.  

What we’re calling for

Local authorities will need support to tackle the backlog.

ITS UK is calling on the respective governments across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, to support a rolling fund dedicated to traffic signal obsolescence, that tackles the backlog over a number of years. The fund would likely see a positive return on investment in the medium term, due to lower operational costs of managing road networks

A rolling programme would:

• Reduce operational costs
• Improve road safety
• Lower energy consumption
• Improve cyber resilience
• Ensure the UK is ready for AI and automated vehicle technologies

Reaction from the sector

The campaign has been backed by companies across the sector.

John Pickworth, Managing Director, Swarco, said: “Whilst digital technology is often invisible, it’s crucial we keep it update to date and fully operational. Advances in security and resilience often get forgotten, but the industry is working tirelessly to ensure we keep the networks flowing smoothly. The “Stuck On Red” campaign is a great example of the industry working together to ensure our networks are protected – but we need support and funding to address long term investment challenges. SWARCO are proud to support the campaign in working with our customers to maximise the performance of their networks.”

Paul Owen, Traffic Technology Director, Telent, added: “Reliable traffic networks are critical to the safe and efficient movement of people and goods, with local authorities responsible for keeping them running. Telent supports the Stuck On Red campaign as it highlights the consequences of delayed renewal, including higher failure rates, rising maintenance costs, safety concerns and growing cyber risks. These pressures make it increasingly difficult for authorities to maintain performance and deliver value for money.

Paul Campion, CEO, TRL, said: “Across the UK, ordinary people and businesses are seeing the impact of ageing traffic technology every day, from rising congestion and emissions to missed opportunities to improve safety and network performance. Modernising traffic technology does not need to be expensive or complex. #StuckonRed highlights the urgency of acting now, because other sectors, from telecoms to rail and energy, have shown that delaying renewal only leads to higher costs, reduced resilience and lost opportunities when ageing systems finally fail.”

Wilke Reints, Managing Director, Yunex Traffic, said: “The Stuck on Red campaign rightly shines a light on an issue that those working with local authorities see every day. Ageing traffic signal infrastructure is increasingly difficult and costly to maintain, and it limits our ability to deliver safer, more reliable and more sustainable journeys. Yunex Traffic strongly supports the call for a targeted, rolling programme of investment that helps authorities move away from reactive maintenance and towards long term value.”