SINGAPORE – Instead of pushing a button to activate the green-man signal at traffic junctions here, pedestrians would just need to wave their hands in front of a sensor to cross the road in the future.

       Beginning from the fourth quarter of 2025, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) will replace all existing mechanical pedestrian push buttons with touchless microwave sensors that detect hand movements using electromagnetic waves.

       When the new sensors detect the wave of a hand, they will send a signal to the traffic light system that a pedestrian is waiting to cross the road.

       There are about 11,500 push buttons at around 2,790 traffic junctions across Singapore. LTA expects to take six years to replace all of them.

       The move, which LTA said is aimed at reducing touch points and improving hygiene, comes after trials were conducted in 2022 and 2023 to evaluate whether such contactless systems could be a viable alternative to the conventional mechanical buttons.

       The reliability and maintenance requirements of these contactless systems were also assessed during the trials.

       LTA tested two types of sensors – an infrared sensor and another that uses microwaves.

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       The infrared sensors rely on changes in light to detect hand movements, while the microwave sensors do so by emitting electromagnetic waves and relying on changes in the frequency of the waves reflected into the device.

       LTA told The Straits Times that it decided to use microwave sensors in the end as they performed better in terms of accuracy and sensitivity, and in varying weather conditions.

       Another benefit of using touchless sensors is a potential reduction in the costs and manpower needed for upkeep, LTA told ST previously.

       The mechanical push buttons have an expected lifespan of 15 to 20 years, requiring more maintenance as they age, and they can become defective because of improper use.

       A tendency for some pedestrians to push buttons repeatedly also leads to greater wear and tear.

       The new touchless sensors will have a guide for the visually impaired. There will be Braille text embedded on the exterior of the devices that say “Touch to activate”.

       The sensors will emit a sound to indicate the system has registered a pedestrian’s intention to cross the road.

       These features are the result of consultations between LTA and the Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped. ST previously reported concerns that touchless sensors could pose challenges for the visually impaired as there is a lack of tactile feedback.

       The installation of the new sensors will be done as part of a larger contract for the maintenance and installation of traffic light systems here. A tender was called on Sept 26, and it will close on Nov 25.

       According to tender documents, signs will be put up on traffic poles with pictures showing how the touchless sensors work.

       The winning contractor will need to submit a proposed design for the new sensors for LTA’s approval. The design should prevent misuse by the public, and the sensors should be unaffected by light and rain, tender documents said.

       Based on drawings in the documents, the touchless devices will look similar to the current push buttons and will feature the same arrow plate to indicate the direction of the crossing.

       Other countries like Australia, the United States and Canada have also trialled and rolled out touchless sensors at pedestrian crossings, citing improvements to hygiene and better accessibility for people with disabilities.

       Mr Shalom Lim, 28, who has Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a rare genetic disease characterised by progressive muscle weakness, said his mobility is restricted, so he would not be able to wave his hand to trigger the new microwave sensors.

       “For someone like me to independently activate the sensor, it would probably have to use some other technology like near-field communication on my phone or motion sensors,” said Mr Lim, a marketing communications assistant at a wheelchair transport and medical escort company.

       But Mr Lim added that the touchless sensors will make life easier for people who are wheelchair users and lack upper body strength to push mechanical buttons.

       It will also help caregivers as it saves them the step of pressing a button before crossing the road.

       “I think it is a step in the right direction,” Mr Lim said.