Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan is hopeful that the launch of a new system for the monitoring of traffic intersections will reduce time spent at traffic lights and enhance safety for drivers.
Speaking with reporters at the launch of the monitoring system at the traffic intersection of the Churchill-Roosevelt Highway and BWIA Boulevard, Piarco, yesterday morning, Sinanan explained the new system was one of several initiatives aimed at reducing congestion.
Referring to situations where drivers felt uncomfortable stopping at certain junctions in dangerous areas at late hours, Sinanan said the new system would allow drivers to continue driving once there was no traffic on intersecting roads.
“There are some areas that we feel if I’m coming there 2 o’clock in the morning, I’m not going to stop on that traffic light to wait for that traffic light to change because there’s nobody around, this will eliminate all of those problems.
“Those cameras you see up there, those are 360-degree cameras. In real time they monitor the traffic and if there is no traffic going from west to north, the lights there will not go to red, this allows traffic to flow wherever there is a flow required,” Sinanan explained.
He added that the monitoring system from the cameras would also improve the response time for authorities during an emergency by having more continuous surveillance at intersections.
“Sometimes we have an accident at an intersection, and it takes a while for us to know what’s going on, this system we can monitor that, and we can immediately inform the police and say, ‘Look an accident just happened’ so we can send whoever is required to ensure a quick flow of traffic,” the minister added.
While previous traffic light systems were underground and often difficult to access for maintenance and repairs, Sinanan said the current arrangement would be above-ground and increase convenience for technicians.
He said the monitoring system is in place at eight intersections with plans underway for it to be installed at 14 intersections within the next few weeks.
Another traffic reduction initiative outlined by the Ministry of Works and Transport Sinanan said included an upgrade of the fleet of vehicles and efficiencies of the Public Transport Service Corporation.