GPS parking system to end city bottlenecks?

Your Sprinter



City centre bottlenecks caused by roadside deliveries could become a thing of the past, thanks to a virtual parking and payment system to be launched later this year by Activ8.

The Virtual Parking Solution will allow councils to create 'virtual bays' that are exempt from current marked restrictions. The bays can then be 'booked' by commercial operators whose vehicles recognise the bays using GPS telemetry. The booking of kerb space not only allows commercial vehicle operators to avoid hefty fines, but will also reduce their admin burden. At the same time, the system should help councils to improve traffic flow, reduce congestion and cut CO2 emissions by effectively managing the kerb space.

"The best way to visualise it is to imagine an air traffic control system for roads which can then be grown to include Virtual Electric Vehicle bays and assist Blue Badge Holders with parking options," said Activ8 director Neil Herron.

The VPS system is likely to be implemented for commercial delivery fleets on Red Routes enforced by Transport for London, before being adopted by other London boroughs and councils across the rest of the country. Discussions are currently taking place with a number of authorities and the first live trials are expected to commence early summer 2011.