KUCHING: The sixth Sydney Coordinated Adaptive Traffic System (SCATS) has been successfully installed at the Jalan Song-Jalan Urat Mata traffic light junction next to the Friendship Park here.
The system allows the coordination of green light at multiple traffic light junctions so that less cars are trapped between traffic lights, particularly during peak hours.
Its adaptive function also enables the system to control the flow of traffic as it will learn to make changes according to direction, time of day and vehicle counts via a CCTV camera.
When traffic volume is high, the system will lengthen the duration of green light at multiple traffic light junctions.
According to Minister of Local Government Datuk Dr. Sim Kui Hian, the system has been adapted in Kuching since beginning of the year to resolve urban traffic congestion.
The other five traffic light junctions using SCATS are those at the Jalan Pending/Jalan Kwong Lee Bank, Jalan Batu Lintang/Jalan Mendu, Jalan Song/Lorong Song 3, Jalan Song/Jalan Setia Raja and Jalan Wan Alwi/Jalan Bayor Bukit junctions.
“SCATS will also be implemented in areas of Jalan Sekama, Jalan Padungan and Jalan Laksamana,” Dr Sim told a press conference held at Friendship Park, yesterday.
The project to install 10 SCATS at traffic light junction under the Kuching South City Council (MBKS) is costing approximately RM1.5 million and will take 12 months to complete.
Dr Sim said the first three SCATS implemented in Sarawak were in Miri while another three installed in Batu Kawah constituency.
“The opposition party has been blaming me for the bad traffic congestion in the area. For the past five years (when the constituency was under by the opposition), what have they done?” he asked.
“I inherited Batu Kawah from them, so do not expect a miracle to solve the problem right away. I am not a god,” he said.
On another development, Dr Sim pointed out that eight enforcement officers from the Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) had been appointed by the Minister of Transport to be trained as traffic police.
Once they complete theri training, they will assist the traffic police in controlling the traffic flow at roundabouts during peak hours.
“I’ve also consulted MBKS Mayor Dato James Chan Khay Syn to also look into the matter so that their officers could also undertake the training,” Dr Sim added.
