Shanghai trials drone-assisted traffic management

Shanghai's traffic police have initiated the use of drones at six key locations across the city to enhance precision and efficiency in traffic management.

This technological advancement, integrated into the city's traffic management support system, aims to combat various traffic violations and alleviate congestion. In a recent incident, a police drone equipped with cameras and a speaker enabled traffic police to promptly intervene when a driver was caught using a mobile phone while driving.

The drones are currently undergoing trials at six major locations in the city, including entry and exit points at Zhoujiazui Road to the Inner Ring Road, the Jungong Road junction at the Middle Ring Road, the Yan'an East Road junction at Yan'an Elevated Road, and the Xinzha Road entry and exit at the North-South Elevated Road.

These locations have been identified through extensive big data analysis and are known for frequent and severe violations such as unauthorized entry by trucks and motorcycles, using electronic devices while driving, crossing the solid line, and cutting in line. The primary goal is to ensure smooth traffic flow on the elevated roads.

Since the introduction of drones, local traffic police have reported a drop of about 60 percent in the number of 110 emergency calls related to traffic accidents and congestion over the past two months in the areas.

In addition to deterring traffic violations, the police employ drones equipped with loudspeakers to conduct patrols, ease traffic congestion, and swiftly respond to traffic accidents and other emergencies.

For instance, on March 8, local traffic police identified an unusual congestion during off-peak hours with the assistance of a drone. They promptly located an accident and guided the involved parties to swiftly vacate the scene, resolving the issue through a mobile app.

At present, the elevated road traffic police brigade has deployed four police drones for video patrols in areas prone to frequent congestion during peak weekday hours. This new technology enables them to swiftly pinpoint congestion sources, allocate police resources, and implement specific measures to enhance road traffic efficiency.

Luo Bin contributed to this story