When most of us hear of a new radar device is about to be sprung upon us, the usual reaction is a groan (at best) and/or (and more likely) a litany of expletives (at worst) will follow.
Well, in the UK, a new type of radar, made by Westcotec, has been introduced that actually helps drivers. If you, for example, approach a corner too fast, the radar device will activate a set of lit arrows on the side of the road warning the driver that they are approaching the corner too fast. Best of all it is ticket-free...
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jerrywimer says:
05:08 AM, 08/ 8/06
This sounds just like the system used on a long interstate grade that I travel on my way too and from work every day. This section of interstate has three emergency sandpits for semis to ditch in if they lose brakes. That pit gets used frequently, btw.
Anyway, this stretch of interstate 40 has two separate sets of what appear to be horizontally mounted red traffic lights over the three downhill lanes, spaced approximately a mile or so apart. If a truck is "sensed" going too fast the lights flash to let the driver know that they need to slow down. (the lights come before the sandpits)
It's interesting to note that the radar used for these lights can be tricked into thinking it sees a "truck" by smaller vehicles following other vehicles too closely down the mountain at speed.
blueguydotcom says:
08:54 AM, 08/ 8/06
Gag. Who determines what a good speed is for a corner? The lame civil engineers that decide a corner needs 35 mph even though your car can take it at over twice that rate without flinching?
Lame, lame, lame. That's as bad as those speed signs that flash when you pass them.
carlisimo says:
06:20 PM, 08/ 8/06
Civil engineers design for more than your car's abilities. The curve is generally designed to fit the area, and then its recommended speed is made safe and comfortable. 'Comfortable' has been determined to mean 0.2g or something like that - forces that boring people would indeed flinch at. 'Safe' means at night in the rain and driving a roach coach. Well ok not really but you get the idea.
(I don't work in infrastructure, just took a class and that was it.)
I suspect this is for sleepy drivers. Alert drivers will have fun with these...
ateixeira says:
01:15 PM, 08/ 9/06
Yeah, I'd be trying to make them all light up. :-)