BTP to introduce 5-second countdown timer for VAC signals

The Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP) are now working to introduce a 5-second countdown clock before the light turns green for Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered Vehicle Actuated Control (VAC) signals in the city. Currently, this facility is not available in these signals. 

The Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP) are now working to introduce a 5-second countdown clock before the light turns green for Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered Vehicle Actuated Control (VAC) signals in the city. Currently, this facility is not available in these signals. 

Given that the length of a red signal is now dynamic at VAC signals, which turn green depending on the density of traffic on each arm of the signal, commuters are caught unaware when it turns green. “If there is a timer, we can be prepared for the signal to turn green. We switch off our ignitions as well, turning them on seconds before the signal turns green. But in these new AI-powered signals, since we do not know when they will turn green, we are forced to keep the engine on, causing much fuel wastage,” said Mukesh Kumar, who rides a bike to work in the city. 

BTP is about to fix this issue shortly. “We have understood this problem faced by commuters and are now working to incorporate a 5-second countdown timer in these signals before they turn green. This will help commuters get ready to pass through,” said M.N. Anucheth, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Bengaluru. 

Meanwhile, many commuters have complained that it is not just waiting on a signal arm that is red to turn green that poses a problem; even passing through the green signals was proving to be difficult. The AI-powered system changes from red to green and green to red on various arms of a signal very fast and the orange signal between these hardly registers, commuters complain. 

Rudresh S., a commuter who rides his bike to work, said that at several junctions, the switch over between green to red happens in a fraction of seconds posing danger. “The commuters apply brakes suddenly in panic and there is a big possibility of vehicles coming from behind ramming into the ones in front. The yellow light stays merely for 2 seconds,” he said.

Sharif, a cab driver, said that at Hudson Circle, this had become a regular problem. “I nearly escaped an accident when the signal suddenly turned red while I was moving and opened for another road. I had to accelerate to pass through. This is quiteconfusing,” he said. 

Presently, the AI-powered VAC systems have been installed at 100 junctions and 65 more will be added by the end of March in the first phase. In the next phase, 300 more signals will be converted to VAC signals, Mr. Anucheth said.