In the afternoon, we went to the Okinawa Prefecture Police Headquarter Traffic Control Center. The security is not that critical here, so we were allowed to take pictures as we wish – thank you.

Recently, as the number of vehicles grows, traffic jams, accidents, noises and gas pollution have also emerged badly. In order to improve the situation, the Okinawa Prefecture Police Headquarter established the traffic control center in 1981. All information of the traffic situation of main roads is gathered in centrally through the computer system and then sent the appropriate command to the traffic lights and marks to elevate the situation. Traffic information is also sent to drivers. Through this system, drivers are well informed and the traffic flow could be maintained smoothly and comfortably. The roads are also safer. This information system functions at the most by providing current information about the traffic situation and by leading the drivers out of the jammed traffic – a fact which results in a more safe and comfortable traffic conditions.

During the briefing, we were told how the traffic light control system works. A huge electronic board is placed in the headquarters where several radio broadcasters monitoring the traffic conditions. Apart form cameras and speakers, the system could detect queues length on a street, average vehicles traveling speed, warn speeding vehicles via electronic board on the road and later take pictures of a stubborn speeding vehicle.

Another function shown to us is about dispatching of police patrol car to a crime or accident place. Using a digitised map and Global Positioning System (GPS), the control center would direct the nearest or available police patrol car to the scene. The number to call is 110. Statistically, there are about 180,000 calls annually to this number but only 50% of them are real calls. We were told that the system works perfectly since there are not so many vehicles on the road. Otherwise, the system might fail as the case in other big cities in the world.