They aim to warn pedestrians and drivers to avoid dangerous areas during rain.
SANTO DOMINGO. – The Mayor's Office of the National District and the Committee for Prevention, Mitigation and Response to Disasters (CPMR) announced the installation of an initiative that aims to indicate water levels during rain events to prevent flooding.
This is the rain traffic light, a pilot plan that consists of a road safety device designed to alert drivers about the level of flooding in weak areas, with a tendency to accumulate liquid.
The "water traffic light" or "rain signaling ," as it is also known, will be located in its first phase in critical points such as the area around the Paraíso Club, near the Los Prados Club, V Centenario, the Tunti Cáceres and Peña Batlle overpass, the Teleantillas area, among others.
Similarly, places such as overpasses, low-lying avenues that can flood during rains , tunnels, among others, have been identified.
The new system uses a color similar to that of traffic lights to warn drivers and pedestrians.
- Red: represents a high risk to vehicular and pedestrian traffic
- Yellow: indicates a moderate risk in traffic and caution is advised (especially if the vehicle is low).
- Green: indicates that there is no risk to pedestrians and vehicles, so traffic can continue as normal.
Through the Department of Transit and Urban Mobility, the city council will implement this project in order to remain in permanent condition before the start of the hurricane season and to meet some objectives such as: preventing accidents , improving road safety, identifying critical points, optimizing emergency resources and reducing material damage.
"We are here thinking about our people; the city of Santo Domingo will always take the necessary preventative actions, especially during this hurricane season , so that our citizens are properly protected," explained Elisabeth Mateo, Secretary General of the Mayor's Office of the National District , representing Mayor Carolina Mejía.
Mateo added that this is a preventative solution that will be implemented in the most critical areas of the city.
Although it does not intend to solve the flooding problem, with this project the mayor's office seeks to prevent traffic accidents, through alerts about water accumulation , reduce blockages caused by flooded streets, protect pedestrians, among other things .
