Source article published in November 2024

What’s the problem?

Drive through almost any neighbourhood in Gauteng and chances are you will come across a traffic light that isn't working. Broken robots aren’t just frustrating, they’re also dangerous. They make traffic jams worse and increase the rate of crashes at intersections.  Traffic lights stop working because of a number of issues – loadshedding, vandalism, theft and poor maintenance. 

How are they fixing it?

The metros of Johannesburg and Tshwane, as well as the Gauteng provincial government, are all looking for ways to encourage local businesses to adopt traffic lights to both keep the lights on and counter vandalism.

What’s making it work?

• Connecting with businesses. When a business agrees to adopt a traffic light, it’s wired up to the robots on a nearby busy intersection with the help of the local traffic and electrical departments. As soon as there's an outage, the lights automatically connect to the businesses’ alternative power source, be it a generator or solar. Local businesses also agree to monitor theft and vandalism at the traffic lights near them. Since 2023, Hollard Insure, MTN, Vodacom, MacRobert Incorporated Attorneys, and dozens of others have signed up to keep traffic lights going in Gauteng.

• Public sector commitment. Although provincial governments and metros are inviting private sector partnerships to keep traffic lights going, they aren’t stepping down from their responsibility. For example, in 2024, the Gauteng provincial department of transport spent R30 million in the first year of the three-year contract to repair or replace the broken traffic lights it is responsible for. 

•  Fighting vandalism. Some traffic lights are broken because of vandalism. Local and provincial government departments are working with local businesses and residents' associations to monitor, report and stop vandalism. All residents are encouraged to report any theft or vandalism they see of traffic signals to the police on 1011.

Acknowledgements

Sources:

'Adopt and protect a Robot' campaign promises to keep traffic signals functional - 28 November 2024

Adopt-a-traffic light beats load shedding

Photo: Gsalamander  on Wikimedia Commons