The iRIDS will bring foolproof evidences of red light violations, a solution for the crisis faced by traffic law enforcement agencies. Violations are captured with the help of vehicle sensor, cameras and the controller hardware installed at the junction. Unlike the other red light violation devices, iRIDS will provide vehicle and traffic signal in a single image. Not only the stills, the iRIDS also gives video footage of violations. A three-second video and three progressive snapshots recorded by iRIDS will be enough to catch red light jumpers. At present, the cameras operational in the city will only capture the image of the vehicle with its number plate in focus and the memo sent to the offender will explain that it was shot while he was driving past the signal.

Currently positioned at one arm of the traffic signal at Keltron, C-DAC has plans to shift the trial run to a four-arm junction. C-DAC is planning to approach Kerala Road Fund Board to install iRIDS at Vellayambalam Junction on trial basis. Currently, the junction has country’s first vehicle-actuated Wireless Traffic Control System (Wi-Trac), also developed by C-DAC.

C-DAC joint director G Satheesh said the speciality of iRIDS is that it will provide evidence of violations in a way common man could understand. “It also helps enforcement agencies in giving proof that could not be challenged in court,” he said.

The device was welcomed by transport department officials. Joint transport commissioner (enforcement) C M Said Mohammed said that they have no problem in upgrading to the system if it is found better than the present system. “We already have a system to check the red light jumping offence. We are ready to upgrade to the new system, provided C-DAC approaches us through the proper channel,” he said.

Currently, red light violation tracking systems provide separate image of traffic signal and vehicle. In iRIDS, the sensor, camera and controller work in a loop configuration. The sensor will detect vehicle presence from loops and trigger camera, which capture image of violated vehicles. It also capture image of the number plate. Using RTO database connectivity, the iRIDS could issue ticket with vehicle owners name and address. The device will work even in low light.

iRIDS was developed by C-DAC under ‘Intelligent Transportation System Endeavour (InTranSe) for Indian Cities’, a national-level collaborative research and development programme, funded by Union ministry of communication and information technology.