THE Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) is combining modern technology with rapid responses to vandalism, as well as innovative solutions, to reduce the number of traffic lights that go on the blink in Johannesburg.
This action will, according to the JRA, also diminish the frustration of road users while minimising the economic impact caused by congestion in a city that has, by far, the largest city road network (13 428km) and 1.669-million licensed vehicle owners.
The heavy rains in the city, often accompanied by lightning, have caused temporary power outages and faulty traffic lights, but the JRA is increasingly turning to modern technology and innovation for early detection and repairs.
However, wet weather is no longer the primary cause for traffic signals going on the blink. Vandalism and power outages are the JRA’s biggest concerns, particularly as these are both beyond the entity’s control.
The JRA strives to repair 90% of faulty traffic signals within 24 hours but faults due to power outages take longer to fix (on average 171 hours) because they require the involvement of the relevant power entities to restore power. While extended power failures continue to present JRA with its greatest challenge, the use of uninterrupted power supply (UPS) units at traffic signals is proving an effective hedge against short power outages.
In 2013, all 200 traffic signal UPS units were stolen. However, these are now being replaced and protected by relatively impenetrable, innovative casings, known as “the Titanic”.
The acting managing director of the JRA, Mpho Kau, said, “In combating the scourge of vandalism and theft, which on traffic signals alone has amounted to R12.7-million over three years, the JRA is increasingly turning to stronger counter-measures to apprehend criminals. CCTV cameras and remote sensors that can detect tampering with poles or equipment have been installed and alarms are sent to alert armed security to apprehend the thieves.
“An infrastructure protection unit has been set up within the JRA to escalate responses. In conjunction with this initiative, aluminium alloy cables with less street value are being used at traffic signals to make them less attractive to thieves. The combination of these measures is having a positive effect but the reduced quality of these cables has introduced random flashing signal faults.”
