Dubai: All traffic lights in Dubai will soon be controlled remotely from a Traffic Control Centre connected through 3G technology, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced.
Of the 830 signalised traffic junctions 330 are already equipped with 3G technology, allowing remote access from the control centre.
RTA said that the next 500 traffic junctions will be updated in the coming months, which will help in ensuring better mobility of traffic, depending on the traffic flow.
Currently, traffic lights are controlled through hired telephone lines and the update will enable better management of traffic congestion at junctions as per the changing traffic patterns, and accordingly minimise the delay resulting from the timing and synchronisation issues of the traffic signals such that the control is totally shifted from wire to wireless systems in the emirate.
“This innovative project will boost the global profile of Dubai, particularly as the system is applied for the first time worldwide. The system has a host of benefits such as its effectiveness, smooth implementation and link with the Control Centre, easy maintenance, and the low cost compared to the previous scenario, where an infrastructure of cables and lines from service providers are required near each signal,” said Maitha Bin Udai, CEO of RTA’s Traffic and Roads Agency.
She added that the RTA has finalised the survey of sites in order to capture information for the entire number of junctions in Dubai which is 410.
She said that all the remaining number of traffic lights will be linked with the Control Centre via 3G network by the end of March.
