Solar powered lights to control city traffic

by Nilma DOLE

The Traffic Police are testing solar powered traffic lights to control traffic in the city. It is also planning to introduce an energy conservation mechanism.

DIG Traffic Police, Jayantha Gamage said, "We have set up solar powered traffic lights at the Bambalapitiya junction and are hopeful that it will be successful".

The solar traffic lights have been invented by a team experts at the University of Moratuwa which shows that local expertise is reaching high standard. Gamage said that solar traffic lights are safe to use because there are no power leaks and pedestrians are at no risk if there is a malfunction.

He said, "Solar traffic lights are reliable because malfunctions can be rectified promptly and the battery used to tap the solar energy can last a month".

He said that since a low voltage is required to power traffic lights, there is no dependence on the national grid.

"Hundreds of vehicles are registered in Sri Lanka every day but we don't have the proper infrastructure to support the volume of traffic", he said.

Gamage said that even with flyovers and detours, the increasing numbers of vehicles will add to the problem and the traffic police has to be innovative to overcome it" Gamage said.