Getting the green light
Published: 14 December, 2007
New hi-tech traffic lights at Braehead automatically adjust the length of time they stay at green depending on how many cars are waiting to go through a junction.
This latest traffic management technology - known as the SCOOT system - means drivers will find it quicker to get in and out of the shopping and leisure centre, near Glasgow.
Sensors that can measure how many cars are queuing at a junction are embedded in the road and linked to the computer controlling the sequence of the traffic lights.
The more cars there are waiting at a particular junction, the longer the lights will stay at green, clearing the queuing cars quicker than at the previous roundabouts.
Traffic and roads expert David Thaw, of consultant engineers Dougall Baillie Associates, said: "These new traffic lights should make a big difference for drivers and remove long queues and delays in and out of Braehead. This latest technology counts the cars and identifies where they are before automatically adjusting the timings of the traffic lights to alleviate any queuing problems."
Braehead's general manager, Peter Beagley said: "We put a lot of effort and investment into making sure visitors to Braehead can get in and out as easily and quickly as possible.
"These new traffic lights should cut the amount of time people previously had to wait at the old roundabouts and traffic should now flow a lot easier."
