Smart traffic lights can lessen wait time and improve traffic flow. — Photos: THOMAS YONG/The Star
Folk welcome Johor’s AI plan to manage traffic but say other solutions also vital
JOHOR wants to use smart technology to better manage traffic flow, says exco member Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh.
The state works, transportation and infrastructure committee chairman said he had met with Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil in hopes of obtaining an allocation for that purpose.
“The state government has submitted a proposal to the minister to instal smart traffic lights along federal roads and state roads (in Johor).
Intelligent solution: A smart traffic light located at the Taman Sri Pulai Perdana-Taman Teratai intersection in Johor Baru is one of four in Johor, with more to come. — THOMAS YONG/The Star
“These are grey areas because they fall under the federal and state Public Works Department (JKR) and we usually have to share the budget.
“As for local council roads, I understand that the respective councils have their own budgets to digitalise traffic lights in their jurisdiction.
“We hope the Federal Government can consider an allocation to instal more smart traffic lights in Johor,” he said.
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He added that when powered by artificial intelligence, the system could significantly improve traffic flow.
Currently, traffic lights use sensors to detect the presence of vehicles.
Mohamad Fazli says the state government hopes to get federal allocations for more smart traffic lights.
“But when there is congestion, a smart traffic light will turn green for a longer time and also communicate with other smart traffic lights to enable an easing of the traffic situation,” said Mohamad Fazli.
“Smart traffic lights can lessen wait time, detect road accidents and also record traffic flow information while identifying peak traffic hours.
“However, each of these lights costs about RM270,000 to RM300,000 to instal, depending on the type of intersections and crossings,” he said.
High-traffic volume locations
Mohamad Fazli said four locations were equipped with smart traffic lights currently, with the areas chosen due to their high-traffic volume.
The locations along FT5, which is a federal road, are the Taman Sri Pulai intersection, Taman Sri Pulai Perdana-Taman Teratai intersection, Taman Sri Pulai Perdana 2-Taman Pulai Emas intersection and Bandar Baru Kangkar Pulai intersection in Johor Baru, he said.
The Bukit Pasit assemblyman said that another four locations had been identified for the installation of the smart traffic light system in July.
“The project will take place in Taman Sri Pulai-Sri Pulai Perdana 2 intersection (FT5) in Johor Baru, Taman Sri Saujana intersection (FT3) in Kota Tinggi as well as Muar’s Jalan Parit Buaya intersection (J32), which is a state road, and Jalan Batu Nampak intersection (FT24).
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Mohd Jafni says 1,500 smart CCTV cameras will be installed in three major cities by year-end.
“We hope the congestion will be eased with the installation of the new system,” he added.
Mohamad Fazli said the state government also hoped that new technology could be incorporated into other public facilities such as street lights.
“Before becoming an assemblyman, I worked at Tenaga Nasional Bhd where we had a mechanism that sent us signals before the street lights become faulty.
“I urge JKR to incorporate more new technologies into its projects, especially in major roads in Johor.”
Chitra says better traffic management systems and town planning are needed.
State housing and local government committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor said Johor’s smart city planning would include installing more smart traffic lights at local council roads.
“The state government will also be installing 1,500 smart closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in three major cities by the end of this year.
“Three local councils, Johor Baru City Council, Iskandar Puteri City Council and Pasir Gudang City Council, will each get 500 smart CCTV cameras.
“The facilities are equipped with artificial intelligence including facial recognition, vehicle number plate-scanning function and recording of related data meant for improving security and safety.”
Mohd Jafni added that the state planned to explore green technology and ways to reduce carbon emissions at the international smart city convention next month.
Frustrated with congestion
While some road users welcome a more sophisticated traffic management system, others say better town planning and infrastructure are needed.
Ahmad Fahmy Fahd Abdullah, 35, said he hoped the state government would consider installing smart traffic lights at the main roads near Taman Pelangi and Kampung Melayu Majidee in Johor Baru.
“The traffic congestion is getting worse, especially during long weekends and public holidays when there is an influx of tourists from Singapore.
“Getting from point A to point B takes much longer and motorists sometimes have to wait for three cycles before they can pass.
“I was once stuck in traffic for an hour just to travel about 7.5km from my house in Kampung Melayu Majidee.
Norafisyah says poor road conditions also result in daily traffic congestion.
“I ended up reaching my destination at 9.30pm when my badminton session was supposed to start at 8.30pm.”
R. Chitra, 44, who lives in Kulai, said smart traffic lights might not be the best way to handle the large traffic volume.
“What used to be a 15-minute journey to my workplace now takes 30 minutes because of the higher number of vehicles on the road.
“Smart traffic lights are not enough. Better town planning is needed,” she opined.
Architect Norafisyah Ahmad, 30, agrees that smarter traffic lights alone are not enough.
She said poor road conditions was one of the major causes of traffic congestion.
“Motorists often have to slow down to avoid potholes on the road.
“Frequent roadworks are also to blame because once a lane is cordoned off, it will lead to heavy traffic due to a bottleneck,” she pointed out.
Motorists complain about frequent roadworks that create bottlenecks.
Norafisyah often leaves her house early to beat the morning traffic and reaches her workplace in Iskandar Puteri at around 7am.
“I am worried for my safety as it is still dark around that time and the carpark is empty,” she said.
Financial consultant Ng Zhen Wei, who stays in Kangkar Pulai, said he did not realise the area was equipped with smart traffic lights.
“It is always congested and I also noticed long lines at the traffic lights, probably due to the high traffic volume.
“Because of the congestion, I often have to take the highway but the toll is around RM2.20 to RM3.19, depending on the exit I choose.”
He said having an elevated highway could help disperse traffic.
Self-employed Poh Pai Yik, 51, who is also a Kangkar Pulai resident, said it was high time for roads in the area to be widened.
He said the area was becoming more densely populated with new neighbourhoods such as Bandar Baru Kangkar Pulai, Taman Sri Pulai Perdana and Taman Pulai Emas.
“The traffic situation is only going to become worse if nothing is done to improve the infrastructure and road design.
“Many lorries are also using the main road, which has many intersections, contributing to the congestion.
“It is frustrating as I always have to plan my journey ahead to avoid peak-hour traffic jams,” he said.
