familiar to our lives“traffic light”. There are approximately 200,000 such systems installed across the country, but something unusual is currently occurring.
As demolition progresses in various places, requests for new installations are becoming difficult to pass. In addition, the number of cases in which the update standard is exceeded is increasing.
“Essentials” of traffic safetyWhat is happening to the traffic lights that can say that?
(Chiba Broadcasting Station reporter Yutaro Ikeda)
Delaying renewal of aging traffic lights
In February 2024, work was being done to update traffic lights at a prefectural road intersection in Ichikawa City, Chiba Prefecture.
The old red, blue, and yellow “light fixtures” and “controllers” that adjust the lighting were replaced with new ones.
This controller was installed 25 years ago. However, the renewal target set by the government based on factors such as the probability of failure is “19 years”. It has been in operation for over five years with no updates.
On average, it’s updated every few years. I think there are some areas that need to be updated as soon as possible.
Why? What is the reason for postponing updates?
There are approximately 8,500 traffic lights in Chiba Prefecture. Of these, approximately 20%, or approximately 1,700, have been in operation beyond the 19-year renewal standard.
The big reason is“Cost reduction”is. Traffic lights are installed and operated by police departments across the country using the budget of each prefecture.
Chiba Prefectural Police spends approximately 4 billion yen each year on the maintenance and management of traffic lights. This accounts for about 40% of the prefectural police’s transportation-related budget, putting pressure on other budgets.
Furthermore, in the near future, tax revenues are expected to decrease due to population decline. Running costs of 4 billion yen had become a major issue.
Under these circumstances, the cost of updating one controller is high, at around 1 million to 2 million yen. The Chiba Prefectural Police has postponed the renewal date to 24 years, reducing the frequency of renewal and reducing costs.
Chiba Prefectural Police Headquarters Traffic Regulation Division Yasuhiro Yamada Acting Chief
The cost of maintaining traffic lights remains high due to limited budgets.
The controllers are updated every 24 years, but we maintain thorough safety management by inspecting them every year and immediately repairing any defects.
Update deferrals are widespread across the globe with similar challenges.
According to a summary by the National Police Agency, out of all traffic lights nationwide,Approximately 24%has been in operation for more than 19 yearsIt means that it has been done.
Difficulty in removing and installing new traffic lights
The issue of ‘running costs’ for traffic lights has further implications.
On a prefectural road in Inohana, Chuo Ward, Chiba City, traffic lights and crosswalks were removed over two years ago to coincide with road widening construction.
There is another traffic light nearby, and they have explained to the local community and obtained consent, but there are many pedestrians walking near a university and junior high school, and some residents are expressing confusion.
I thought it was unavoidable because it was combined with the road widening, but I feel it’s a little dangerous because junior high school students sometimes cross where traffic lights have been removed.
Additionally, installing new traffic lights is becoming more difficult.
On the school route of an elementary school in Sakai, Kashiwa City, the PTA has repeatedly requested the installation of traffic lights at intersections.
Many cars pass through the intersection, and there are many accidents, but the prefectural police have responded that it would be difficult to install such a system.
Through the monitoring activities of local volunteers, accidents involving children have been avoided, but once a fatal accident occurs, it is too late.
In 2023, a fatal accident occurred at the Ryufukuji intersection in Inzai City.
The district has submitted a request to the prefectural police and the city to install traffic lights, but there has been no movement toward installing traffic lights, and they have not been informed of the reason why they cannot be installed.
I hope that no more accidents will occur on this road, which is essential to the area. We strongly request that traffic lights be installed in the hope of ensuring traffic safety in the area.
Approximately 300 requests are made each year to install new traffic lights in Chiba Prefecture. On the other hand, only about 10 new units are built each year.
What are the criteria for determining whether to remove or install a new one?
How is the decision to remove or install new traffic lights made?
The National Police Agency compiled the standard “Guidelines for Traffic Light Installation” in 2015 and notified police forces nationwide.
This includes the following installation conditions:
▼ Traffic volume of 300 cars or more per hour
▼The distance from the neighboring traffic light must be at least 150m.
▼There must be enough space for pedestrians to safely wait at traffic lights.
Five years ago, the National Police Agency instructed police forces across the country to re-examine the necessity of traffic lights based on the “Guidelines,” in response to the fact that updates were being postponed in many places.
The plan was to proceed with the reorganization of the entire traffic signal system, including removing those that are less necessary.
In Chiba Prefecture, 115 traffic lights were judged to be of low necessity over the past five years, and 38 of these have already been removed.
On the other hand, 91 new units were built within the prefecture in five years in areas where the population is increasing.
Including integration, the total number increased by 47 units. The “running costs” of maintenance and management are on the rise.
Removing traffic lights requires local consensus and coordination, which takes time and is not progressing as expected. We are also installing new facilities where necessary, so the current situation is that this has not led to a reduction in the total number of facilities.
When maintaining traffic lights, we carefully assess the necessity and“Safety measures that do not rely on traffic lights”We believe it is important to take appropriate safety measures according to the environment.
“No traffic lights” How to protect?traffic safety
While there is a need to reorganize traffic lights, police forces around the country are strengthening their“Safety measures that do not rely on traffic lights”is.
In February 2023, on the school route of elementary school in Chiharadai, Ichihara City, Chiba Prefecture,“Smooth crosswalk”A special crosswalk has been installed.
In order to encourage drivers to slow down and stop, the surface of the crosswalk is raised to the same height as the sidewalk, and the surrounding area is colored to alert drivers.
Three years ago, there was a traffic accident at this site where an elementary school student died.
The local neighborhood association requested the installation of traffic lights. However, this did not materialize as the traffic volume did not meet standards.
Therefore, Ichihara City proposed installing a “smooth crosswalk” instead, and the local community accepted it.
Actually, it would be best if they installed a traffic light, but I don’t think it can be helped. I think this equipment will have some effect, so I think it’s better than waiting years for traffic lights to be installed.
“Safety measures that do not rely on traffic lights” are being introduced in various places around the world in various forms.roundabout“Roundabout”or….
(From NHK News)
Set up a waiting area in the middle of a crosswalk across a wide road so that people can cross the road little by little.“Two-stage crosswalk”Etc.
(From the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism website)
These measures require almost no maintenance costs, so they are cheaper in the long run than traffic lights.
However, road construction is necessary and the cooperation of road management agencies is essential. There are also challenges, such as installation being difficult in some cases depending on road traffic volume and the shape of intersections.
Expert: “Optimal safety measures”
Experts familiar with transportation policy point out the need to consider and introduce the most appropriate safety measures for each site.
Professor Emeritus Hisashi Kubota, Saitama University
In the past, when a traffic accident occurred, the first response was to install traffic lights, but there are some places where safety measures other than traffic lights may be better. I think it would be reasonable to remove traffic lights in these places and introduce other measures as a safety measure, and as a result, the number of traffic lights installed would be reduced, leading to cost savings.
Traffic lights are an essential safety measure at intersections with heavy traffic. Each countermeasure has its strengths, so we will raise awareness of “measures that do not involve traffic lights,” and encourage police, road managers, and residents to discuss local traffic issues and consider what is needed. I think I need to go.
Interview postscript
In the past, the number of traffic lights was increasing. As private cars became more common and traffic accidents increased, traffic lights were built one after another in various places, but standards for their removal were not clearly defined.
However, as we enter an era of population decline and local government finances are expected to become tighter, the budget for traffic safety cannot be considered sacrosanct. I feel that now is the time to be selective and focused, and to think about what sustainable traffic lights should be.
The broadcast content of “NHK News Good Morning Japan” will be distributed on “NHK Plus” until 7:45 a.m. on Wednesday, May 1st.
Tags: wrong traffic lights Postponement updates removal postponement installations Cost reduction reason Chiba site
-
