4 December 2012 Last updated at 09:23 ET

New system to cut traffic jams in Fife

The Intelligent Transport System has been introduced for the first time in Scotland on the M90

A motorway management system designed to ease congestion on the roads has been launched in Fife.

The Intelligent Transport System has been introduced for the first time in Scotland on the M90.

It creates a bus lane on the hard shoulder and uses sensors in the road to detect when mandatory speed limits should be varied to help traffic flow.

It is hoped the new system will help cut jams and make journey times more reliable.

Forth crossing

The system has been introduced as part of the Forth Replacement Crossing project and will be followed in the new year with a launch for the M9 and M9 spur near Kirkliston.

A final phase will be introduced in 2016 when the new Forth crossing is complete.

Transport Minister Keith Brown said: "The Forth Replacement Crossing is a flagship project for the Scottish government's determination to invest in our national infrastructure and, in turn, protect and grow our economy. And it is already delivering.

"The project, which is on time and on budget, was always about more than just the building of a new bridge, as impressive a feat of civil engineering as that stunning structure will ultimately prove to be.

"It was about improving that vital cross-Forth link and using existing infrastructure more efficiently to ensure better traffic flow and more reliable journey times, prioritised public transport, improved safety and lower emissions."