Sponsored by
Video: New traffic system will cut congestion in Peterborough
DRIVERS fed up with idling away at red lights and getting stuck in jams have been promised a smoother journey through Peterborough by council chiefs as they unveiled a new, hi-tech traffic control system.
DRIVERS fed up with idling away at red lights and getting stuck in jams have been promised a smoother journey through Peterborough by council chiefs as they unveiled a new, hi-tech traffic control system.Costing 500,000, it will help cut journey times, congestion and CO2 emissions by using on-street detectors embedded in the road to gauge traffic levels and feed the information through to the council nerve centre, at Bridge House.
There, operators will adjust traffic signal timings at individual junctions and co-ordinate a number of junctions along the route.
Yesterday, the system, called SCOOT (Split Cycle Offset Optimisation Technique) was put into action on Oundle Road, between its junction with Shrewsbury Avenue and the Town Rail Bridge, and in London Road from Glebe Road to Town Bridge, following a trial.
It has already been introduced in cities across the country, and studies have shown it can reduce journey times by between eight and 12 per cent.
As the system expands, operators will monitor and manage traffic flows, react to road accidents, road works and other events by adjusting traffic signal timings to reduce tailbacks.
It is also hoped it will help stop busy routes coming to a standstill on days when Peterboorugh United are playing at home by tailoring the lights to match the traffic.
Cameras could also be introduced at junctions and drivers seen breaking traffic rules could be fined by council officers, while a link up with police could see law-breakers caught by numberplate recognition.
Peterborough City Council's cabinet member for neighbourhoods, housing and community development councillor Peter Hiller described the system as an "intelligent but benign Big Brother".
He said: "It's an intelligent traffic management system that will help under lots of different circumstances in and out of the city.
"The crime recognition is a bonus – we are not talking about taking bobbies of the beat.
"It will help people move through traffic quicker, reduce emissions, frustration and journey times,
Head of environment, transport and engineering at Peterborough City Council David Farquhar said people's individual journeys would only be shortened by about 10 to 15 seconds across the affected stretch.
But he justified the cost of the system by saying the overall benefit for motorists, including bus and lorry drivers, would be a major one.
He said: "It might be 10 to 15 seconds, but if you take that and multiply it by thousands, that's where the really big benefit is.
"What you get is more continuity of travel."
He added: "If there is an accident and we are aware a road is closed and that traffic has moved to other roads, we can change the lights and adjust their timings.
"Eventually, there will be signs saying how long a journey will take and advising motorists about the best routes."
He said 1 million would be poured in over the next three years to extend it to other areas.
The system has been designed by the council working in partnership with Atkins.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Peterborough
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.