The intersection of Zhongke Road and Guangfu Road in Taichung City has a heavy traffic flow, and the peak time period in the morning is as long as 200 seconds, which is currently the intersection with the longest traffic lights in the city.

(Photographed by reporter Chen Jianzhi)

[Reporter Chen Jianzhi/Taichung Report] There are nearly 6,400 traffic lights in Taichung City. Due to the traffic volume and speed limit of road sections, among the traffic lights in the city, the longest traffic lights are at the intersection of Zhongke Road and Guangfu Road. In order to allow passers-by to stop and wait for red lights one or two times less, the Taichung City Transportation Bureau has introduced a smart dynamic signal system at 68 intersections, which can adjust intersection signals in a timely manner according to the traffic flow, travel time and driving speed of the road section The time system solves traffic congestion, and plans 22 pedestrian-only time phases to separate pedestrians and vehicles by time to improve pedestrian safety.

Director of Transportation Ye Chao-fu said that the traffic lights of traffic lights play an important role in traffic safety. As of the end of last year, Taichung City had set up 6,394 traffic lights to instruct vehicles and pedestrians to stop, pay attention, or proceed at intersections. Traffic lights are not just To maintain traffic order and driving safety, the setting of the seconds is even more mysterious, and must be combined with professional calculations and traffic flow considerations.

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Ye Zhaofu explained that the timing of traffic signals is adjusted on a rolling basis. The number of seconds for red lights is mostly determined by the traffic flow, and the number of seconds for yellow lights is determined by the speed limit of the road section. The intersection time is used to plan the number of seconds of the signal, so as to achieve the separation of pedestrians and vehicles by space and time, and ensure the safe passage of pedestrians.

The Bureau of Transportation pointed out that the current longest traffic light in Taichung City is 200 seconds. The location is at the intersection of Zhongke Road and Guangfu Road near Zhongke, Xitun District. The peak time period in the morning is 200 seconds. The name is the intersection of Taiwan Avenue and Wenxin Road, and the traffic light seconds are 180 seconds.

In Taichung City, the shortest traffic light at an intersection is 50 seconds. The traffic bureau also uses the screen on the countdown display for pedestrians at the intersection to coordinate with the traffic light seconds to broadcast "Not enough seconds, please pass next time", "Pay attention to turning cars", Warnings such as "cross the intersection quickly" and "obey the signs and do not run through red lights" remind people to pay attention to traffic safety.

The Bureau of Transportation emphasized that in order to improve the traffic safety at intersections with heavy pedestrian flow and easy crossing of turning vehicles and pedestrians, Taichung City has built 22 intersections by the end of last year, including the intersection of Shizheng Beiqi Road and Huilai Road, and the intersection of Xueshi Road and Yingcai Road. "Pedestrian-only time phase" to reduce conflicts between pedestrians and vehicles, optimize the pedestrian walking environment, and continue to promote improvement measures, including pedestrian crossing retreat, green zebras, zebra crossing lighting equipment, marked sidewalks, shelter islands, pedestrian-only signs, etc.

In addition, 68 smart dynamic signage systems have been introduced in Zhongqing Road, Taiwan Avenue, Wuquan West Road, and Huanzhong Road. Unlike traditional signage, which adopts a fixed time system, it is based on the traffic flow and travel time of the road section. Time and driving speed, adjust the time system of intersection signals in a timely manner, effectively reduce the driving time of major arterial roads such as National Highway Daya, Taichung and Nantun Interchange, Zhongqing Road, Wuquan West Road, etc., and allocate more green light time to those with larger traffic volumes direction, reducing the number of times that passers-by stop and wait for red lights.

The Taichung City Transportation Bureau has introduced an intelligent dynamic signal system at 68 intersections including Zhongqing Road and Huanzhong Road, and uses surveillance cameras and other equipment to adjust the seconds of traffic lights in a timely manner.

(Photographed by reporter Chen Jianzhi)