The Johannesburg Road Agency (JRA) is combining modern technology with rapid response to deal with vandalism and develop innovative solutions to keep traffic lights in the City functioning.

The Agency is using remote monitoring systems installed at intersections to detect faults and alert the JRA’s Traffic Operations Centre to dispatch a team of skilled technicians who fix defective signals.

JRA Acting Managing Director, Mpho Kau said, “The aim is to reduce congestion and stimulate economic growth by picking up traffic signal faults earlier and improving our response and repair times.”

The JRA has recently completed two projects aimed at protecting the 3,6 million electronic traffic signal components installed on the streets under harsh weather and traffic accident conditions, from flashing in the rain.

“Over the past three years, R28 million has been spent replacing aging controller equipment and R40 million replacing old lead encased cables, making Joburg’s traffic signals less prone to faults in wet weather. Deployment of innovative earthing mats is also underway to protect traffic signals in areas most susceptible to lightning.”

Vandalism and power outages

However the main reasons for defective traffic lights are vandalism and power outages.

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.

To combat vandalism and theft, 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 also been set up within the JRA.

(Gautengonline.gov-Thembisa Shologu)