Timers at traffic signals impractical: Government

Manama : Bahrain will not install timers on traffic signals as it was considered “impractical” by the Government, it was announced here yesterday.

This came in the government’s reply to a parliamentary proposal, which demanded experimenting the effectiveness of traffic signals’ timers by installing them at one of the country’s main roads.

Submitted by MP Adel Al Assoomy in 2015, the proposal was aimed at organising the flow of traffic and reducing accidents, mainly at junctions.

“This will reduce the deadly traffic accidents that are caused by jumping red signals and would increase drivers’ awareness while driving towards junctions. If timers were installed at traffic signals, drivers wouldn’t be surprised when the signal suddenly turns red,” Al Assoomy told DT News earlier.

In a written reply that was received by the House of Representative yesterday, Shura Council and Representatives Council Affairs Minister Ghanem Al Buainain affirmed, “The government, represented by Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Ministry, is concerned about the safety of drivers.”

“The current smart system applied at junctions measures the amount of traffic on each side of the road. The traffic signal would turn green on the congested side, allowing more vehicles to pass. This process doesn’t depend on time and is different in accordance to the location of the junction. As for the timers system, it would operate in compliance with time. The signal would turn green for the same period for each side of the junction, even if it was empty. This hinders the flow of traffic and reduces the efficiency of traffic lights,” the minister said.

He explained that the rejection to the proposal comes after reviewing its effectiveness in regional countries that is applying the timers system, such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

“Many of these timers were removed from junctions in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, as it caused a large number of fatal accidents,” Al Buainain told.

The minister also added that the Ministry is planning to install traffic warning signs 200 metres ahead of traffic signals, in a bid to urge drivers to reduce their speed while approaching junctions.