A campaign to renew the UK’s traffic technology
The UK’s traffic signal infrastructure is ageing. A large number of assets have reached life-expiry or will do so in the next few years.
Public policy has often focused on potholes, but the UK faces a dott-hole problem too: Digitally Obsolescent Traffic Technology – 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 highways authorities in making their traffic technology fit for the future.
The challenge
- Older assets increase operational costs, burdening road authorities and slowing down mobility for all road users, not just motorists.
- Modernising roadside assets is key to introducing smarter traffic management that is proven to reduce congestion, and necessary for a future with autonomous vehicles.
- Assets that continue to use halogen bulbs will be less energy efficient, increasing the carbon footprint of the transport sector.
- The older the assets, the more likely they are to be at risk of a cyber attack.
The Scale of the issue
Up to date as of January 2026
Two year forecast under a ‘do nothing’ scenario
% of obsolete traffic signal controllers
0% to 100%
What we’re calling for
Local authorities will need support to tackle the backlog.
ITS UK is calling on the respective authorities (DfT, Scottish Government and Welsh Government) to support a rolling fund dedicated to traffic signal obsolescence, that tackles the backlog over a number of years.
The fund would would see a positive return on investment after only a few years, due to lower operational costs of managing road networks.
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