Ius priority plan jets green light
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IORITY for buses at traffic Its is now being studied by reral local authorities folving successful tests in Lei;ter and Derby.
[he test equipment was :ed to both vehicles and ffic lights.
The system uses a unit Hinted under the bus which ntifies the vehicle to detec^ units buried in the road. iese are connected to a adside unit which signal to a Ddified traffic light control stem, which in turn receives e message and changes the ,hts.
Already there are standard epartment of Transport proved types of equipment r use in the detection of buses.
A DTp technical memo on the system says that up to six detector loops would be needed on the approach to a traffic light.
The roadside unit will be able to take up to three loops over three lanes or four loops over two lanes or five loops over one lane.
Under the system, when a bus approached a traffic light it would either change to allow the bus to pass or hold a green light so that the bus is not held up.
Investigations are also being carried out on detecting priority emergency vehicles using the same principle. The DTp says it expects to issue specifi• cations for the equipment.
It says _ that there will probably be cash savings if the equipment is introduced for both buses and emergency • vehicles at the same time. Among the advantages of the system the DTp report says that traffic can be segregated without the need for bus lanes or physical separation of traffic.