Roads too ‘smart’ for countdown timers

Manama 

The Kingdom’s advanced traffic sensing technology makes the installation of electronic countdown timers at traffic intersections impractical, according to a recent study. 

The traffic lights in Bahrain roads employ a technology, known as SCOOT, which analyses the amount of traffic on the road. It then calculates the intensity of incoming traffic with the help of sensors on the roads and signals green accordingly, minimising traffic bottlenecks. 

The study, by the Works, Municipalities and Urban Planning Affairs Ministry, revealed that countdown timers would not be installed as it would not “synchronise with this technology (SCOOT).”

Roads Planning and Design Director Kadhim Abdul Latif said, “We have investigated this matter and our conclusions are that it is not practical in Bahrain.” The “smart signals” currently installed regulate themselves depending on the volume of traffic on the roads and they do not work on predetermined timings, he added.  “When we install timers on these kind of traffic lights, it will not work together,” affirms Latif. 

Commenting on the safety aspect of timed traffic signals, the road planning director said, “countdown timers do not actually make our roads safer.” 

On the other hand, it may cause the driver to speed when approaching an intersection, because the person on the wheel would tend to race against the time on the signal, he noted. 

“We have looked into the studies conducted in other countries that has the timers and these are our conclusions. Our objective is to make the Bahraini roads safe and keeping timers is not the solution,” he added.