Over 75 pct traffic lights in Kuching to go Smart by 2021

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Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian

KUCHING: More than 75 per cent of traffic lights in Kuching will be upgraded to Smart Traffic Light system by next year, said Local Government and Housing Minister Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian.

“Because of promising impacts, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg has included smart traffic lights part of Smart City (Initiatives) for Kuching.

“Soon, we will have all these data not only to the local councils but also to the public to help with traffic congestion management,” he said yesterday.

Dr Sim said the Smart Traffic Light system kicked off in 2017 as a pilot project involving Kuching City South Council (MBKS) and Public Works Department (JKR).

“We started with 10 locations including Jln Batu Kawa to ease traffic congestion,” he added.

According to a previous news report, there are over 150 traffic lights all over Kuching city.

The Smart Traffic Light system, which is connected to a computer in a central traffic control room, uses cameras and sensors to understand what’s happening on the streets and transmit real-time data to regulate the traffic flow accordingly.

It was reported that the system, fitted with artificial intelligence, can detect if there is a concentration of vehicle or no vehicle at the different intersections and junctions.

With the signals, the system can make its own timing to route traffic. At present, the current traffic lights have fixed time interval for green and red signals, which do not provide any flexibility.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Jemut Masing in his winding-up speech at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) said the Smart Traffic Light system is one of the various main initiatives being implemented since the inception of the Ministry of Transport on August 22, 2019.

“Under the SMART Mobility Initiative, the Sarawak government is implementing SCATS (Sydney Coordinated Adaptive Traffic System) traffic systems for 72 traffic signals to provide safe movement at intersections for vehicles and pedestrians in the state.

“The installation of 42 SCATS traffic system in Kuching is scheduled to complete in the first quarter of 2021. This will be extended to Miri, Bintulu and Sibu,” he had said.