The LED-lined traffic lights in Bandar Perda can be seen from further away and in poor weather. — ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star
TO ENHANCE road safety and urban infrastructure, Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) introduced LED installations on traffic light poles.
The poles are now lined with LED strips that change colour in sync with traffic lights.
The full-pole illumination ensures that traffic signals are visible from greater distances and across wider angles.
This, in turn, reduces the risk of missed signals, especially in poor weather.
The project began in March last year at a traffic intersection near MBSP headquarters in Bandar Perda, Bukit Mertajam, Penang.
There have been positive results in terms of road user awareness as well as urban aesthetics, said Seberang Perai mayor Datuk Baderul Amin Abdul Hamid.
“This upgrade improves traffic signal visibility, helping drivers and pedestrians respond more effectively.
“It also enhances the vibrancy of the city, attracting visitors and boosting local economic activity,” he said.
With a budget of RM55,000, Baderul Amin said the project served as a test bed for expansion, even though financial constraints had prevented wider use.
“If the project continues to prove effective, MBSP will find ways to optimise costs and extend the system to other intersections,” he said.
It was reported that fully lit traffic light poles were also installed at an intersection in Kuching, Sarawak, in 2023.
The poles have been used in parts of China, India, Turkiye and the Middle East, especially at large intersections.
