Mayor of London Boris Johnson has unveiled plans to smarten up the capital’s road network.

Part of TfL’s £4 billion Road Modernisation Plan, Mr Johnson said that for the first time a new generation of digital road signs will keep drivers informed with real-time traffic data.

Speaking at TfL’s traffic control centre in London, he said that the technology will be first trialled on the A12, A13 and A40.

Mr Johnson also announced the trialling of a new OS of temporary traffic lights that can be remotely controlled from the control centre.

The capital will also see the use of junction technology being expanded, including the Split Cycle Offset Optimisation Technique (SCOOT) to optimise traffic light timings.

The Mayor and TfL have also urged sat-nav companies to use the organisation’s traffic data to give drivers real time information on their GPSs and other sat-nav devices.

Mr Johnson said: "A growing population and a strong economy mean that keeping pace with the rising expectations of all road users in a great city like ours is always going to be a challenge."

The Mayor also said that tackling congestion is a key part of the road modernisation plan to improve the efficiency, safety and reliability of the roads.

"This will in turn help us to deliver world class urban realm, better cycling and pedestrian facilities and ensuring that our road network is fit for purpose in the 21st century."