Rio de Janeiro replaces traffic signal cables to combat theft

The Rio de Janeiro Traffic Engineering Company (CET-Rio) has begun replacing copper cables in traffic signals within the Méier and Cachambi neighborhoods. The new cables are being replaced with orange-colored conductors marked “sem valor comercial” (no commercial value) to deter theft.

This initiative is part of a municipal strategy to combat cable theft, which has caused losses exceeding R$ 27 million in traffic signaling alone. The city government, in partnership with the state, has established an Integrated Nucleus to Combat Cable Theft and Fencing to address the issue, which has seen high rates of occurrences in the capital.