Chennai: Armed with eye-catching baton lights, a posse of ‘smart traffic cops' has been strategically deployed at key intersections across the city since Wednesday. Handpicked by the top brass, they were specially trained to manage traffic effectively.
"Their role is to manage traffic with precision, dynamically adjusting signals real-time, ensuring a smoother and more efficient flow of vehicles, and easing congestion across high-traffic areas," said a senior officer.
The initiative, introduced by additional commissioner of police (traffic) R Sudhakar, involves a select group of 10 police constables chosen for their fitness, expertise, and ability to manage busy traffic situations. These men were assigned to critical locations, including Anna Salai, Anna Flyover, Gandhi Statue, Gengu Reddy Subway, Egmore, Ega Junction, and Kilpauk, wich are notorious for heavy and chaotic traffic. The presence of these trained smart cops is expected to ease the congestion significantly.
The smart traffic cops are trained to observe traffic conditions and make adjustments on the spot. Their role goes beyond simply monitoring signals. They will actively control the flow of traffic by adjusting signal timings based on real-time traffic volume. "They are mainly trained in hand signals, as it has several advantages in traffic management, including enhanced communication, improved traffic control, and increased visibility," said additional commissioner Sudhakar. They allow real-time adjustments based on traffic volume, offering flexibility where automated systems may sometimes fail. These traffic cops will also be trained on turnouts, where vehicles need to yield or change lanes.
City roads are high-pressure workplaces, and traffic cops serve as the face of the Chennai police for lakhs of road users. Special training on soft skills is also imparted to the cops, and they receive training in stress management too, Sudhakar said.