Power of light

Ranchi, March 4: The traffic police can now breathe easy.

In a bid to improve traffic movement in the state capital, the Ranchi police has decided to equip its traffic personnel with light-emitting diode (LED) traffic control batons.

“This is part of the modernisation effort for the traffic police. During blackouts, when traffic signals stop working, these LED batons would help the policemen control traffic as usual,” Ranchi traffic superintendent (SP) Dadanjee Sharma told The Telegraph.

These batons are equipped with red and green flashlights with in-built facilities for a quick changeover. The moment street lights go off, all the traffic policemen would require to do is to turn the LED batons on and use it to control traffic movement.

LEDs produce more light per watt than incandescent bulbs and hence would be an ideal for uninterrupted use.

Apart from a weather resistant body that makes these batons more durable, they are comparatively light in weight too.

An added advantage of these batons is that they would make cops more visible to motorists thus increasing their safety. A number of traffic policemen have been seriously injured while directing traffic at busy intersections.

“Thus the batons would act as a protective shield as well,” the Ranchi traffic SP stressed.

Now, police officials would no longer have to carry whistles and batons as the new device is fitted with a sharp whistle. With only one equipment to handle, particularly during power cuts, the batons would definitely increase the efficiency of the personnel.

Sharma pointed out that plastic road delineators have also been put up at various thoroughfares of the city to ensure that vehicles move in a straight line and do not jump lanes.

These delineators are made of durable plastic and are also highly flexible so that they do not snap even when hit by speeding vehicles.

“Many more of these would be put up to ensure that vehicles move in their respective lanes. Though some of these delineators have been broken, the damaged ones have been replaced to ensure road discipline at all times,” Sharma said.