High-tech crossing keeps schoolchildren safe

A high-tech pedestrian crossing equipped with flashing lights, audio warnings and the ability to video traffic offenders was recently put into use for the first time in Bishan district, Chongqing.

In addition to the safety alert, its facial recognition system can identify traffic violators, such as jaywalkers and drivers who fail to yield for pedestrians.

The crosswalk is installed at a busy road in front of a gate at Bishan Middle School, to try to ensure students' safety when they cross the road after school.

The zebra crossing area has light strips and when people walk across the street, they flash to alert approaching drivers to be cautious.

At the same time, display screens on either side of the crosswalk broadcast a reminder to pedestrians to only cross the street when the light is green.

"This smart crosswalk can use facial recognition technology to catch those jaywalkers and make their behavior public," said Jiang Fei, a traffic officer in Bishan.

"It can also record the license plate numbers of the vehicles that don't yield to the pedestrians and put them into the traffic management system."

He said that the lighting system was especially useful in the evenings and on rainy and foggy days.

Rong Sheng, from the school's safety department, said that students felt safer after the installation of the smart crosswalk.

"In the past, our safety guards had to stand in the middle of the road after school to stop the cars and let the students cross," he said.

"But sometimes, it was still dangerous for the students to cross the busy road."

The school filed a report with local education authorities to address the safety issues.

Bishan traffic police decided to put a smart crosswalk in front of the school. If it works well, similar technology will be used at other busy intersections, they said.