Many Metro Manila stoplights have switched from countdown timers to a more modern system, causing rage among motorists.
As explained by Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), some select locations in the metro have upgraded from traditional countdown stoplights to more sophisticated systems that operate accordingly to traffic volumes.
It has been reported that MMDA Road Safety Unit Traffic Operations Officer V Francisco Pesino Jr., in a statement obtained by CNN Philippines’ Newsroom Ngayon, has called the new traffic system an “advanced traffic control system,” which is equipped with “detectors.”.
Additionally, Pesino describes the three modes of operation of the traffic system:
Under fixed time mode, the traffic system acts in a countdown fashion, which works seamlessly with detectors. Drawback? It does not matter whether there is traffic or not on any road, the cycle of red, yellow, and green continues. As soon as the heavy stream reaches its end phase, all traffic has to cease.
Semi-actuated and fully actuated modes rely on detectors but may not be compatible. Depending on traffic demand, the phase and cycle times of these signals are changed. Additionally, semi-actuated signals may extend the green phase of a traffic stream for a certain period of time to enable the vehicles to clear the intersection.
With fully-actuated signals, computers assign the right-of-way based on traffic flow demand.
All countdown timer stoplights will likely be replaced with the new system within a few years (2-3) as part of the ongoing upgrade.
ManilaShaker is a tech media producing insightful and helpful content for our local and growing international audience. Our goal is to create a premier Philippine digital consumer electronics resource that provides the most objective reviews and comparisons globally.
