Singapore to get GPS system

Singapore to get GPS system

SINGAPORE (Reuter): Singapore, in its battle to avoid choking its highways like so many other Asian cities, said yesterday it would establish the world's largest traffic monitoring system and make it accessible to drivers.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) said the plan would harness a satellite-based Global Positioning System (GPS) now used by taxis as a booking system.

GPS devices installed in 7,500 taxis will use sensors to send information on speed and direction to the LTA, which in turn will make it available through broadcast media, the Internet, telecommunication services, and commercial map-based CD-ROMs.

The information should enable private car drivers and bus and truck operators to avoid congestion, the LTA said.

Singapore has 3.6 million people, nearly all living on the 585-square-kilometer main island.