Tuesday 28th November 2006
(ref:
407/2006)
Market Street in Atherton is going all hi-tech thanks to an innovative new traffic light system that can ‘see’ the traffic coming.
The special traffic lights, which recognise buses are being installed to allow access just for public transport to the centre of town. The signals can ‘see’ when a bus is approaching and change to green to let it pass.
Currently Market Street is closed to all traffic except public transport between 10.30am and 4pm. Signs and information have been on display since the rules came into force four years ago.
Under the new system, a vehicles approach Market Street, they pass over detectors embedded in the road. A microprocessor instantly compares their chassis construction against a library of bus ‘signatures’. If the system’s database recognises the vehicle as a bus, the controller triggers the lights to change to green. If it’s car or a lorry, then they stay on red.
The council has worked closely with bus companies and the police to develop this system in response to requests from Atherton’s Township Forum to improve the effectiveness of traffic control along Market Street.
The scheme will ‘go live’ on Monday December 4 at Market Street’s junction with Crab Lane.
Wigan Council’s Assistant Director for Highway Services Mark Tilley says: “These new lights will be on red from 10.30am until 4pm each day, except when a bus approaches. Drivers need to watch the existing road signs as they come through Atherton, and not ‘tailgate’ a bus and end up on Market Street illegally.”
At present, motorists can be prosecuted for driving down Market Street during the prohibited times. Passing the new red signal is also an offence punishable by fines and even penalty points.
The new technology, known as ‘Peek’, is unique in Greater Manchester and is a new tactic aimed at combating the abuse of existing traffic orders by some motorists.
