Rhondda Cynon Taf Council is set to trial touchless technology at busy pedestrian crossings in a bid to reduce the spread of coronavirus.
The scheme, which is funded by the Welsh Government, uses a detection technology that automatically activates the signalled controlled crossings when pedestrians move their hand under a sensor rather than pushing a button. If the trial is successful, it will be implemented at all signal-controlled crossings in town.
Cllr Andrew Morgan, leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and cabinet member with responsibility for highways and transportation, said: ‘The technology will help reduce the spread of the virus during the COVID-19 pandemic, as we know it can live on surfaces for some time.
'But it also has other important advantages for the future – including that it is more reliable, and also provides a solution for people who experience difficulty with mobility and may find it difficult to reach a button in order to cross the road safely.’