KUCHING, Feb 22: Road users who are speeding along major routes in Kuching will now be alerted with red-coloured numbers on an LED signboard to remind them of the speed limit.
Sarawak Transport Minister Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin said the Kuching Public Works Department (PWD) has recently installed Radar Speed Advisory Signs at several locations in Kuching.
This is the first time ever that such technological devices have been installed in Sarawak.
“Apart from showing the allowed gazette speed limit, these speed signboards use radar technology to determine and display the numerical speed of a vehicle (in kilometer/per hour) on an LED panel that is integrated on the signboard itself.
“If the vehicle is travelling below the speed limit, the LED panel will display the corresponding speed in green colour.
“If the vehicle has exceeded the speed limit, the panel will display the corresponding speed in red colour,” he said after launching the installation of the signboard at Jalan Tun Jugah today.
Also present were Deputy Minister for Transport (Aviation and Road) Datuk Dr Jerip Susil and the ministry’s permanent secretary Datu Buckland Bangik.
Apart from Jalan Tun Jugah, the Radar Speed Advisory Sign will also be installed at Jalan Batu Kawa and Batu 14, Jalan Kuching-Serian.
The purpose of the signboard is to provide precautionary warnings to motorists, by alerting them of their speed especially if they surpass the speed limit knowingly or unknowingly.
“When the roads are big and straight especially on flyovers, motorists may sometimes lose track of their own driving speed and hence unknowingly exceed the speed limit.
“By installing an additional speed reminder, motorists will now have the benefit of an additional reminder of their speed when they are travelling, alerting them to slow down and avoid a potential speeding ticket, or accidents,” Lee elaborated.
He also revealed that the signboard is able to wirelessly transmit data back to the PWD control centre for statistical analysis purposes.
However, only information on moving speed and timestamps will be collected.
“For the time being, no car plate numbers will be recorded,” he said. — DayakDaily
