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There could be a high-tech solution to Bahrain’s crippling traffic problems on the horizon, thanks to a new technology that has seen success during trials in Japan, writes Kristian Harrison.
Last week, a delegation from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications of Japan (MIC) held a seminar in Bahrain to introduce its latest Intelligent Transport Solutions for the first time in the Gulf region. There, they discussed the benefits of integrating Japan’s state-of-the-art Intelligent Transportation System technology into Bahrain.
The event consisted of a series of sessions discussing the application of V2X technologies to ease the social impact of traffic. V2X technology is produced to resolve various social and environmental transport-related issues, specifically related to traffic safety, congestion, accidents and logistics.
It offers a communication system between Vehicles and X, where X could be anything such as infrastructure, a vehicle, a bicycle or a pedestrian.
The technology works by installing sensors at junctions that can detect passing traffic. These sensors then respond with signals sent back to the vehicle, alerting drivers to the presence of obstacles at the junction and in their blind spots.
Guests were given a virtual reality presentation at Manama’s Downtown Rotana hotel on how the system works with the user projected into the car as the technology was demonstrated in 360 degree vision.
Takanori Mashiko, deputy director of the New-Generation Mobile Communications Department of the MIC, said: “We were proud to host this event in Bahrain and introduce the latest ITS solutions with the aim to localise them to suit the needs of the GCC markets.
“Bahrain is well positioned to be among the first within the region to integrate this technology into its infrastructure which will ease industrial traffic issues and their social impact. Bahrain and Japan have had a long-term positive relationship which we hope will be additionally benefited by the introduction of V2X technologies.”
Discussions of a potential trial have been tabled but the cost of implementation has not been revealed.
