Han Ximin

    ximhan@126.com

    SHENZHEN’S traffic police adopted new technologies over the weekend to regulate jaywalkers and indiscriminately honking drivers and to improve traffic by introducing remotely controlled movable tidal lane fences.

    The intelligent jaywalker facial recognition system is labeled as electronic cops at zebra crossings. The data-based system can automatically detect those who walk against red lights and store their facial features in the system. By comparison, the system can find out the number of violations a jaywalker has committed. Their photos and violations will be displayed on the screen that is installed at the intersection.

    The system, which has been put on a trial use, was first installed at the intersection of Xinzhou Road and Lianhua Road in Futian District.

    Since 2016, the city has stopped a total of 200,000 jaywalkers. According to Li Qiang, head of the traffic police technology department, the technology will be implemented throughout the city after the trial period. It works 24 hours a day and can help save the cost of management and improve traffic.

    A sound navigation and ranging system has been installed on Mingzhu Boulevard in Yantian District, which often sees high heavy-vehicle traffic such as container trucks.

    The sonar-based system can detect the source of a honk from a distance of 50 meters and take photos of the honking vehicle simultaneously. It then uploads the license plate number to a screen installed on the roadside to remind and warn drivers.

    The system can differentiate honking, engine noise and the bumping sound of vehicles in motion.

    The traffic police authority launched citywide actions earlier this month on seven types of honking violations, and violators face a fine of up to 500 yuan (US$72.55) for each count.

    The violations include honking more than twice in a row, or for longer than 1 second at a time. Drivers will be fined for using a horn that is over 115 decibels while in congested traffic to hurry pedestrians at crosswalks or vehicles ahead of them, or for honking to summon others while waiting in residential areas, hospitals or schools.

    The focus of the checks will be on ports, piers and other areas where trucks congregate such as Huanggang Checkpoint, the Yueliangwan area and the Yantian port area.

    Police have set up a blacklist for those honkers who are caught twice or more times. The public is encouraged to report and complain about honking violations by calling 8333-3333 or sending a message to Shenzhen traffic police’s WeChat (ID: szjjwx) or Weibo.

    Since April, police have checked 822 honking violations, and complaints over honking have dropped by 65 percent.

    A road section of Shennan Boulevard between Nanxin Road and Nanshan Boulevard is often congested with east-bound vehicles from National Highway 107, Bao’an Boulevard and Yueliangwan Boulevard.

    To improve traffic, an 80-meter-long movable fence has been put in place to allow east-bound vehicles turning left at the intersection of Nanshan Boulevard and Shennan Boulevard to enter a 350-meter tidal lane during morning rush hours between 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

    With a remote control in hand, a police officer can move the fence along the tidal lane within a minute. The fence, with four wheels underneath each unit, can move transversely and detect obstructions. It reduces work load and risks of officers and improves the tidal lane’s efficiency by 15.5 percent.

    Drivers are advised to follow traffic lights to enter the tidal lane. If they mistakenly enter the lane, they are forbidden from stopping or reversing.