Traffic signals with brains soon

Traffic signals with brains soon
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: Bangalore will soon have signals that think. When the traffic is lean, motorists won’t have to wait impatiently for the red light to turn green. The new system will enable them to breeze past without a stop.

The traffic police have decided to install ‘vehicle actuated signals’ at all major junctions in the city. These signals change automatically, based on the density of the vehicles, which they pick up through sensors.

The police have already identified 28 junctions for installing the self-acting signal lights. More junctions are in line for these high-tech devices.

Police believe that the new system will reduce signal - jumping cases during the night and reduce accidents. Technology-driven traffic management is not new in the city.

Recently, the police had experimented with a ‘monitor traffic control’ system, which collects live information and remote-manages traffic. But many major junctions had not been provided with signal lights with countdown systems and this was causing an immense waste of fuel while increasing pollution.

Now, the police have decided to install ‘vehicle actuated signals’ replacing all old ones. DCP Traffic (East) M A Saleem told this website’s newspaper that the new system would not only reduce congestion but also bring down pollution levels.

“Our main aim has been to synchronise traffic. If vehicles move on without long stops, an enormous amount of time and fuel will be saved. In this system the timing changes according to the number of vehicles on the roads.

“We have already identified 17 junctions on JC Road for installing new signals. On MG Road five junctions have been selected while on Cubbon Road four signals will be accommodated,” Saleem said.

The ‘vehicle actuated signals’ work with the support of sensors laid beneath the road. It adjusts the timer according to the density of the vehicles.

Saleem said the system would provide 15 seconds for pedestrian crossing after each movement. The police feel that increasing the number of signal jumping cases, especially during night, would be reduced with the help of the new system.