Smart traffic signs warn pedestrians of oncoming cars in narrow alleyways
Smart traffic signs warn pedestrians of oncoming cars in narrow alleyways
2023-03-27
A new system to prevent traffic accidents is rolling out in the narrow streets of Taichung. The “smart sign” detects oncoming cars and warns pedestrians to take extra care. It works even in narrow alleyways where traffic lights would be impractical. Residents where the system is being trialed say accidents have decreased noticeably.
A shout of “car!” lets you know a vehicle is coming. You need your wits about you here on Alley 21 of Dali District’s Dingcuo Road. But the shouts are quieter since Taichung City Transportation Bureau installed this “smart street sign.”
The flashing LED sign says in orange characters “Oncoming Car at the Side,” accompanied by a red arrow to show the direction, with the aim of reducing traffic accidents.
Tseng Sheng-chi
Xiali Borough chief, Dali District
We used to have two or three accidents a month. I haven’t heard of any recently.
Member of public
If the pedestrians are paying attention, then it will work. But even a system as good as this will have limited impact if people aren’t paying attention.
The smart sign uses laser technology to detect oncoming cars. It can intelligently predict what will happen at the fork in the road. When a car is detected, the sign flashes “Oncoming Car at the Side, Take Care.” Warning LED lights also flash on smaller roads, urging pedestrians to slow down. The system is designed for narrow alleyways and T junctions where traffic lights aren’t feasible.
Chou Chih-yuan
Taichung City Transportation Bureau
We were considering how some streets are not wide enough, making it impossible for cars to pass each other. So the Transportation Bureau has adopted a different system than traffic lights – the smart sign. We found in a trial that overall accidents were reduced.
However, local residents say there’s a glitch: There aren’t enough seconds allotted to cross the street. They want the system to be recalibrated. The Transportation Bureau says that optimizations like that are on the way.
智慧路標當你的眼! 提醒用路人"側向有來車"
2023-03-27
有些路口較狹窄、死角多，無法設置紅綠燈，不但造成用路人困擾，也常導致車禍，台中市交通局推動「智慧路標」，閃閃發亮的LED標誌，上頭寫著「側向來車、小心行駛」，以智慧路標，扮演用路人的第三隻眼；當地里長說，車禍的確減少了。
民眾大喊「車來了！」互相提醒，經過大里區頂厝路21巷口要小心，現在不用再喊了，台中市交通局已經設置了「智慧路標」。
這個一閃一閃發亮的LED標誌，上頭以橘黃色字體寫著「側向來車」，再搭配紅色的箭頭，指引來車的方向，避免車禍發生。
[[大里區夏田里里長曾盛琪]]
“以前事故大概一個月兩、三次。最近都沒有聽說了。”
[[民眾]]
“如果有在注意的用路人，就會有那個效果啦，但是裝這麼好的設備，若是不去注意，效果也是有限。”
這個智慧路標，採用雷達微波技術偵測來車訊號，可以聰明掌握交岔路口動態，偵測來車訊號，提醒「側向來車、小心行駛」，再啟動支道上的預警LED標誌，讓用路人提早減速，避免車禍發生，專門用於路口狹窄、無法設置紅綠燈的T字路口。
[[台中市交通局科長周志遠]]
“在考慮道路寬度不夠寬，然後導致沒有辦法會車，所以交通局採用了有別於紅綠燈的方式，就是智慧路標。試辦之後的狀況，整個事故是有降低的。”
不過，有民眾發現，LED智慧路標雖然立意良善，但是秒數不太夠，希望可以延長；對此，交通局表示，會再進行優化。
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