Traffic officials silent on new

To date they have been unavailable to respond to repeated requests for a comment on the matter, although several groups and individuals have been very vocal in their criticism of the matter.

Among the groups raising objections to the location of the new traffic signals is the Downtown Owners and Merchants Association (DOMA) who warned in a press statement that the new lights would cause severe delays if operated during the peak hours.

“The intersection of South Quay and Broadway is arguably one of the busiest and most complex of all traffic intersections in Port-of-Spain,” said DOMA.

“It is the most used entry and exit point to our capital city and in our view, despite this traffic load, has functioned extremely well given the number of cars passing through.”

According to DOMA, the intersection already allows for the filtering of traffic in six directions, without a signal, and this system seemed to be working effectively.

“To our knowledge, there is no record of serious accidents or injury at this intersection and we feel that as a first step, these lights should be activated on a trial basis in flashing mode only,” DOMA said.

Traffic lights and the role they play in regulating vehicular flows along the country’s roadways have been subjects of criticism and debate for as long as they have been in operation here.

Traffic lights have existed since the 1860s. Early models were manually operated, revolving, gas lantern with red and green lights that were installed in a London intersection around 1868.

The lantern eventually exploded, leaving it up to Garrett Augustus Morgan (1877-1963) to invent the precursor to the automatic traffic light that we use today, a feat which he achieved on November 23, 1923 when he patented his invention.

Noel Forde of Belmont is credited with introducing traffic lights on streets of TT when he installed the first ever in the country at the intersection of George Cabral Street and Western Main Road, St James.

Today, there are 233 intersections, 142 wig wag lights or zebra crossings and 58 pedestrian lights in operation throughout the country. All of them are supervised by personnel from the Traffic Management Branch (TMB).

Firms like Traffic Equipment, Repairs and Imports (TERI) and Joe Claude Enterprises are hired by the TMB to service and maintain these traffic lights.

Darren Brito of TERI explained: “Most lights work off sensors in the road which detect the presence of a vehicle. This is relayed to a traffic controller — a microprocessor that controls the timing and phasing (or directions) at an intersection. Based on the parameters of the design, which is set by the Traffic Management Branch, as to the timings, the controller acts accordingly.”

Brito said a safety device in the system, a conflict monitor, monitors the status of the controller, the load switches, bulbs in the signals and the condition of the voltage supply.

“If the conflict monitor detects any problems it will send the intersection to flash and keep it flashing until a technician arrives to investigate the problem and restore it to normal operation,” he explained.

With plans for expansion and improvement of the road network throughout the country, there are plans for installation of even more traffic signals. Whether this will facilitate free flow of vehicular traffic, or add to already severe congestion remains to be seen.