Traffic Police
to trial new cameras that detect illegal U-turns, vehicles stopping
in yellow box junctions
SINGAPORE: A new traffic camera system capable of detecting
multiple traffic offences at junctions will be tried out in June,
Traffic Police (TP) said on Thursday (May 10).
The system uses a 3D laser scanner to track the movements of
vehicles and automatically detect three types of offences: Illegal
u-turns, vehicles turning in a non-turning lane and vehicles
causing obstruction at yellow box junctions, it said.
It will record the time of the violation, the lane the vehicle
was travelling on and its registration plate.
The system, which can also detect multiple offences committed
simultaneously, will be tested for three months at the junction of
Thomson Road and Newton Road. The location sees heavy traffic and
is prone to such violations, TP said.
No summons will be issued for offences detected by the system
during the trial period.
“These are violations that potentially can cause accidents, and
we have seen such accidents happening at major junctions,” said TP
commander Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police (SAC) Sam
Tee.
“That causes concern and TP wants to use technology to remind and
deter motorists from committing such violations.”
The system’s effectiveness in detering such offences will be
evaluated after the trial period before deciding on next steps, SAC
Tee said.
When asked if it will deploy the new system at other junctions, TP
said it will adopt a risk-based approach, similar to how speed
cameras are deployed on roads where speeding-related accidents have
occured.
“We don’t have a specific timeline in mind, but quite certainly we
want to deploy such technology,” SAC Tee added.
For this trial, the system comprises two cameras: One for detection
and another for capturing. However, TP said it is still working on
the final "form and shape" of the locally-developed system.
"There will be reminder signs when we deploy the enforcement
cameras," TP added.
The offences of making an illegal U-turn and causing obstruction at
a yellow box junction carry composition fines of S$70, while
failing to form up correctly when turning left carries a S$130 fine
and four demerit points.
"The new cameras (help) to shape motorists' behaviour so that we
prevent accidents from happening," SAC Tee said.
UPDATE ON AVERAGE SPEED CAMERAS
TP also revealed that the average speed cameras, located along
Tanah Merah Coast Road, will be operationalised in the fourth
quarter of this year.
Twelve sets of cameras have been deployed along 4km of the road,
where speeding was often seen, said TP. The road is also frequently
used by heavy vehicles and cyclists.
These cameras use a two-point system to detect and compute the
average speed of a vehicle as it enters and exits the enforcement
zone. This means that motorists who resume speeding after passing
the first camera still risk getting caught.
TP said it tested the technology last year on Changi Coast Road,
adding that it has been "very effective".
SAC Tee also confirmed that the average speed cameras will be
installed at other locations. "TP is looking at it and at a
suitable time we will share with the media our subsequent expansion
plans," he said.
The two systems are the latest in TP's enforcement capabilities,
which already include mobile speed cameras, fixed speed cameras and
red light cameras.
"Can we have an all-in-one technology that can capture all
(offences)? The answer is yes, I think," TP said. "But that is
something we are still looking at."
Source: CNA/na(ms)