A new generation of road camera which can deduce how many people are in a car is to be tested for the first time.
A new generation of road camera which can deduce how many people are in a car is to be tested for the first time.
It will initially be used to monitor car-sharing lanes in Leeds but councils across Britain are said to be interested in using the technology.
It will initially be used to monitor car-sharing lanes in Leeds but councils across Britain are said to be interested in using the technology.
Four out of five cars driving into cities at rush hour only have one person in them.
Four out of five cars driving into cities at rush hour only have one person in them.
The government believes encouraging people to share journeys will help combat congestion.
The government believes encouraging people to share journeys will help combat congestion.
It wants councils to look at building more high occupancy vehicle lanes.
It wants councils to look at building more high occupancy vehicle lanes.
Enforcing the lanes has previously been a problem. In the US drivers often trick police and cameras with dummies and even large dogs to allow them use lanes reserved for more than one person.
Enforcing the lanes has previously been a problem. In the US drivers often trick police and cameras with dummies and even large dogs to allow them use lanes reserved for more than one person.
The new camera developed at Loughborough University can see how many people are in a car by detecting water and blood content.
The new camera developed at Loughborough University can see how many people are in a car by detecting water and blood content.
Hundreds of the cameras have been sold to the US and could lead to a big increase in the number of car share lanes on British roads.
Hundreds of the cameras have been sold to the US and could lead to a big increase in the number of car share lanes on British roads.
The inventor of the camera, Professor John Tyrer from Loughborough University believes the camera is key to reducing congestion.
The inventor of the camera, Professor John Tyrer from Loughborough University believes the camera is key to reducing congestion.
"It allows you to automatically count people. That means you can sort out the congestion on the roads now the lanes now actually work properly," he said.
"It allows you to automatically count people. That means you can sort out the congestion on the roads now the lanes now actually work properly," he said.
"That pools through to the congestion charging so they can charge differently or reduce the rates dramatically if you've got more people in the cars, and the same with car parking." Car sharing lanes are already in operation in cities such as Birmingham and Leeds.
"That pools through to the congestion charging so they can charge differently or reduce the rates dramatically if you've got more people in the cars, and the same with car parking." Car sharing lanes are already in operation in cities such as Birmingham and Leeds.
In Birmingham only cars carrying at least two people, are allowed to join motorbikes and cycles in using the lane, in a bid to ease congestion into the city centre.
In Birmingham only cars carrying at least two people, are allowed to join motorbikes and cycles in using the lane, in a bid to ease congestion into the city centre.
Work is currently taking place on the M1 in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire to widen the road in order to accommodate a car-sharing lane.
Work is currently taking place on the M1 in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire to widen the road in order to accommodate a car-sharing lane.
Have you taken part in a car sharing scheme? Do you use any of the new car sharing lanes? Send us your experiences using the form below.
Have you taken part in a car-sharing scheme? Do you use any of the new car-sharing lanes? Send us your experiences using the form below.
