Beijing launches reversible lane for intelligent connected cars

The world's first reversible lane for intelligent connected cars was launched on Wednesday in Yizhuang, Beijing. This is part of Beijing and Hebei's plan to make the region a pilot zone for intelligent transportation.

The program is being led by the Beijing Innovation Center for Mobility Intelligence guided jointly by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China, the Beijing Municipal Commission of Economy and Information Technology and the Industry and Information Technology Department of Hebei province.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has plans for the 5G frequency to support research and development and the development of system guidelines.

Separately, Beijing Innovation Center for Mobility Intelligence has set aside a 12-kilometer lane in the Beijing Economic and Technological Development Zone, and the ZTE Corporation is responsible for providing LTE network solutions. At present, 20 sets of road coordination equipment have been deployed at seven junctions, with each one connected to traffic lights, road signs, and variable intelligence boards via the internet.

On this section of the road, connected cars can receive warnings of blind zones, pedestrians jumping red lights, vehicles closing in and priority notices, making the driving experience safer and more efficient.

Xia Shudong, the president of BICMI, says the program will be run in three stages.

The new airport highway and the Beijing-Zhangjiakou highway will be equipped with the network in 2018. And with continuous efforts, an enlarged intelligent network will provide better road services for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games.