This Day, That Year

Item from March 19, 1988, in China Daily: The Beijing Traffic Control Center, which opens today, will cover the central parts of the capital. Its computerized traffic control system is expected to improve traffic efficiency in the downtown business area by about 20 percent.

The Beijing Urban Traffic Control System, serving all the 53 major intersections within the Second Ring Road, is based on predefined and stored signal programs. These can be adjusted so that traffic lights are timed to coordinate the flow of vehicles with minimum delay.

By 1995, the city will have an advanced traffic information network, including telecommunications, signals, office management and treatment of traffic violations.