Hoping to clamp down on accidents involving pedestrians, the Chandigarh administration will soon reintroduce PELICAN crossings on city roads. A PELICAN (Pedestrian Light Controlled Crossing) is a system installed at zebra lines on a traffic signal that allows people on foot to negotiate traffic by stopping it.
It is a common part of traffic management in cities abroad. The structures have come up on the Madhya Marg in Sector 7 and 8. In fact, the structures have come up at around 500 m from the roundabout and the lights on the busy road.
The Road Safety Council recommended installing the system at traffic-heavy points for convenience of pedestrians. A committee under chair-`manship of DSP (traffic) Kamaldeep was constituted which identified 16 locations. The estimated cost of the project is around Rs 35 lakh.
Under the concept, pedestrians will be able to press a button, signalling the traffic to stop. This will then allow the pedestrians to cross the road using the Zebra lines.
In 2013, a pelican light had been set up behind the Neelam Cinema, but had created confusion. This had led the UT engineering department to switch them off as there were multiple problems.
HOW THE SYSTEM functions
PELICAN crossings have red/amber/green signals facing drivers, and red man/green man signal heads on the opposite side of the road forthe pedestrians waiting to cross
The Chandigarh adminsitration has budgted Rs 35 lakh for the project
{{/usCountry}}The Chandigarh adminsitration has budgted Rs 35 lakh for the project
{{/usCountry}}A pedestrian push button unit operates these and when there is a steady red signal to the traffic, then
drivers MUST stop
When a pedestrian wishes to cross the road, he pushes the button on the lighting post
Once the red light stops the traffic, the green signal for the pedestrian is lit
This device is the highest level of protection installed for pedestrians. Abroad, it is used on roads where the speed is 60 km/hr.