To tackle rash driving, Delhi traffic police to install sensors across signals

Delhi traffic police will soon tackle the traffic menace using advanced sensor technology. These sensors, which will be installed at signals across the Capital, will help in effective enforcement and prosecution of traffic violators.

Dependra Pathak, special commissioner of Delhi (Traffic), said that departments officials are working on the installation of these sensors that will automatically detect traffic violations such as jumping red light and over-speeding and assist in e-challaning.

The sensors will be installed at traffic signals. They are based on non-intrusive technology complemented by automatic number plate recognition. They have video cameras with speed component to catch violators with proofs. The sensors and cameras will be connected to remote servers to access the data of vehicles to follow e-challan and prosecution through E Sarathi Vahan Court, Pathak said.

The sensors are based on multi-dimensional infrared for traffic classification and volume count.

Apart from this, another multidimensional colourless laser sensor will also be installed at traffic junctions to detect vehicles accused of violating norms. The entire process of enforcement and prosecution will be monitored through a dedicated command control centre along with five regional centres in the city for effective traffic management.

The command and regional centres will also be integrated with the national crime database, apart from a criminal tracking network to intercept stolen and suspected vehicles.

The idea is to develop smart policing on Delhi roads. The ratio of people losing lives on the roads is always higher than any other crimes. Therefore, strengthening traffic police and enforcing effective traffic norms will eventually help save human lives on the roads, said a traffic official.

In 2017, Delhi police registered 1,474 fatal accidents and 1,005 fatalities on the roads. The number of deaths due to private cars was 272. Heavy vehicles killed 155 people in 2017.

Delhi has several stretches such as Aurobindo Marg, BRT corridor, MG road, Mehrauli-Badarpur road, Pankha road, Kalindi Kunj road, Vasant Kunj-Vasant Vihar road and various other stretches that are notorious for wrong-way traffic.

Last year, traffic department prosecuted 20.10 lakh offenders for triple-riding, overspeeding, drunken driving and other offences. The official pointed out that offences such as overspeeding, red light jumping, driving in opposite lanes to save U-turns, driving on footpaths are often committed because the commuters are in a hurry.

The sensors and advanced traffic system will help detect speed violations on vulnerable stretches and accidentprone spots round-theclock, Pathak said.

Delhi traffic police is currently based on manual enforcement and prosecution and uses help of interceptors for over-speeding on certain stretches. As the manual enforcement does not cover all stretches, there is always a scope for violations. Implementation of this technology is expected to help bridge this gap, the official added.