Generally the algorithms attempt to reduce delays (user time), stops, exhaust gas emissions, or some other measure of effectiveness.
Normally optimization of signals along a road is a challenging and expensive task, because the sources for traffic monitoring have been limited to inductive loops, cameras or manually counting.
Cities that spend time and resources on making travel efficient within their borders will attract a healthier, wealthier, and happier population.
Image detection devices exhibit numerous problems including degradation during bad weather and lighting.
It inherently favors motorized traffic over alternate modes such as pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users and may promote more auto use.
[2] It is suggested that an alternate approach could involve traffic calming, and a conceptual focus on the movement of people and goods rather than vehicles.