The UK Government has awarded funding for tech projects that have been designed to ease congestion, speed up journeys and reduce impact on the environment.

The funding will help in developing new apps, which will provide information to motorists about congestion and free parking spaces, it will also provide real time journey information for visually impaired passengers.

The apps will also notify drivers when electric car charging points become available.

UK Roads Minister Andrew Jones said: “I congratulate today’s winners for coming up with cutting-edge, innovative ideas that will transform journeys for passengers and motorists across the country.

“Technology is rapidly evolving and this important work shows that if we get it right, it can cut congestion, speed up journeys, clean up the environment, and improve accessibility.”

The £4m government grant will be distributed among nineteen councils across England, where each council would be receiving around £50,000 to £300,000 for each for their ideas that would improve journeys through digital innovation.

The government has awarded £234,000 to Blackpool council for using Bluetooth technologies to cut traffic congestion, and £182,000 for Dorset to provide advance congestion warnings for drivers on the A31 using an app.

Warrington council received £300,000 to provide real-time information to businesses and public through on-street information displays, social media and phone apps, and £150,000 has been given to Coventry for a real-time bay availability system across 450 pay and display parking spots.

"Technology is rapidly evolving and this important work shows that if we get it right, it can cut congestion, speed up journeys, clean up the environment, and improve accessibility."

Westminster, Hounslow, Hammersmith and Fulham together received £204,000 to roll out a new generation of electric vehicle charge points which will provide real-time data to motorists when they are available.

Peterborough has secured £50,000 to use digital technology to provide real time journey information directly to visually impaired people.

According to the report, the number of traffic jams around the capital increased by 56% in the last year, while the average speed around the UK is declining with the addition of new cars to a congested road network.

Image: A map. Photo: courtesy of Crown copyright.