HCM City tests removing countdown timer displays on traffic light systems

The traffic light at the intersection of Mai Chí Thọ - Tố Hữu in Thủ Đức City has had its countdown removed. Photo plo.vn

HCM CITY – The HCM City Department of Transportation said it is testing the removal of countdown timer displays on traffic light systems at four major intersections in the city to avoid cases of trying to run the light or suddenly braking and causing accidents.

The intersections include Mai Chí Thọ - Tố Hữu in Thủ Đức City and intersections in the inner city such as Nguyễn Đình Chiểu - Trương Định, Nguyễn Đình Chiểu - Bà Huyện Thanh Quan, and Nguyễn Đình Chiểu - Cách Mạng Tháng 8.

Accordingly, traffic lights at the above intersections will display green, red or yellow without the seconds counting down to zero as usual.

Instead, depending on the time and number of vehicles passing through the intersection, the time of each colour will be flexibly adjusted. This is to avoid the risk of accidents, avoid cases of trying to run the light or cases of dangerous sudden braking.

The HCM City Urban Transport Management Centre, said that the pilot programme only applies at large intersections that have installed surveillance cameras and signal systems connected to the centre that can be controlled remotely.

Đoàn Văn Tấn, centre director, said that removing the timer on traffic lights will help make the traffic situation more stable, avoiding cases where drivers try to pass traffic lights with two or three seconds remaining. – VNS