MANILA, Philippines — Stuck in the middle of an intersection because of ambiguous traffic lights? The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority is looking to put a stop to that.
The MMDA announced that it has removed traffic light timers in 96 intersections along major thoroughfares in Metro Manila and replaced them with an “adaptive signaling system” which uses sensors.
At a previous media briefing, MMDA chairman Romando Artes pointed out that instead of timers, the green light would “blink” five times before switching to yellow light, which would then remain for three seconds before eventually becoming red.
According to Artes, traffic lights that used timers had become inconsistent in its commands, with instances wherein the timer skipped.
Artes said he hoped the new scheme in the MMDA’s traffic lights would prevent motorists from driving fast just to catch up with the green light before it changes to red or stop.
He also dismissed apprehensions by some motorists, who saw the new rules as a “trap” under the no-contact apprehension policy.