Rejoice, Bengaluru! Sensor-based signals could make traffic-free roads a reality

Bengalureans are used to having to wait endlessly for traffic signals to turn green. As if that were not enough, sometimes one has to wait for the signal even when there is no traffic. Bypassing the signal even on an empty road is a traffic violation for which one has to pay a fine. The city's traffic police have finally come up with a solution to this problem in the form of sensor-based traffic signals.

These sensors reduce the need for manual intervention at signals, automatically turning green, red, or yellow based on the density of traffic. According to The Hindu, R Hithendra, Additional Commissioner of Police (for traffic), said,

“The sensors will visually measure the number of vehicles present and the wait time will be adjusted automatically after a lag of two–three seconds. This will lessen the need for manual intervention at traffic junctions and vehicle users will also benefit from reduced wait timings.”

About 90 signals in places like MG Road, Residency Road, and Shivaji Nagar are covered under the ambit of the project, which will take four months to complete.

The first phase of the project proposed the installation of 35 smart signals. Twenty of these, installed in areas like KR Puram, Yelahanka, and Rajajinagar have proved efficient, which has motivated the traffic police to go ahead with the adaptive road traffic signal system in other prime locations to prevent congestion.

The city currently has an approximate of 400 traffic signals and with this project, around 125 of them will become sensor-based. Talking about this to The Times of India, one of the commuters said,

"Smart signals could come in handy, especially during spells of rain when traffic comes to a standstill, and during accidents and breakdowns. Sometimes, cops aren't present at junctions to man traffic."

Apart from this, the Bengaluru traffic police also plan to bid farewell to the Blackberry phones they have been using for more than five years to record traffic violations and collect fines. They will be replaced by Android smartphones. The police will initially procure 625 phones for the purpose.

Image credit: Shutterstock

Read more:

Three solutions to Bengaluru’s traffic woes that sprung from Flipkart’s Gridlock Hackathon

Want less traffic? Learn to drive, first!

Do you have an interesting story to share? Please write to us at [email protected]. To stay updated with more positive news, please connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.