Radar signs. Speed Displays. Speedcheck signs – what ever you prefer to call them, these ubiquitous traffic monitoring and feedback devices work. Study after study has shown that radar signs are highly effective at slowing traffic – even years after they’ve been installed.

And we know why they are so effective. They have a way of reminding drivers to check their speedometer and compare their own speed to the posted limit – and that is usually enough to do the trick.

So what does this have to do with burgers?

Well, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a whopping 80% of all car accidents and 65% of near misses are caused by distracted drivers. As it turns out, eating is one of the biggest causes of distraction-related accidents there is – more than changing stations, more than talking, even more than texting. And it’s radar signs that break that distraction pattern and get driver attentions focused back on the job at hand – safe driving.

In their study, the NHTSA put together a list of the top 10 worst foods (and drinks) to eat or drink while driving. From least worse to very worse they are:

10. Chocolate:  Ever drop a melting candy bar in your lap?

9. Pop:  Try driving when your soda goes down the wrong pipe or out your nose!

8. Donuts with filling:  You never know where that jelly is going to squirt.

7. Fried Chicken:  Can you say, “Hot!”

6. Barbecue:  They don’t teach a course in how to keep the sauce of your shirt, do they?

5. Hamburgers:  Especially the juicy ones.

4. Chili. Chili:  Work clothes – meeting after lunch. You get the rest.

3. Tacos:  Doesn’t look much different than Chili when it falls on your shirt.

2. Soup:  I guess there’s a lot of people that eat soup while they drive – or drink it, and that can be as hazardous as #1 on the list…

1. Hot coffee:  A painful distraction just one loose cup lid away.

Radar Signs Popular With Voter

Presidential politics aside, the results from this past election cycle proved that even during hard times, the majority of American voters are in favor of road and traffic safety improvement projects.

In Michigan, voters approved a new bridge that added a new crossway between the Great Lakes State and Canada.

Arkansas voters approved a half-cent sales tax for improvements to be made on local highways, bridges and roads.

In Maine, voters overwhelmingly approved a $51 million transportation improvement bond measure focused on safety, road and bridge repair.

Road safety measures were also approved by voters in Arlington County, VA, Rhode Island, Memphis, Los Angeles County, Arizona, Hawaii and Alaska, to name just a few regions across the U.S.

According to Kerry O’Hare, vice president and director of Building America’s Future Educational Fund, these results are not unusual. American voters, she said, often support traffic safety and infrastructure improvement projects. The key is making sure voters know what they are going to get for their money.

“We find this to be true for local traffic calming initiatives as well,” said Gary O’Dell, president of Information Display Company. Local school districts, counties and municipalities are typically in favor of budgeting for radar signs and other traffic calming measures, designed to improve the safety of drivers and pedestrians.

This past election, about 68 percent of ballot measures aimed at highway safety and transit improvement projects were approved, according to research conducted by both The American Road & Transportation Builders Association and The American Public Transportation Association. Dozens of transportation-related projects, valued at more than $2.4 billion, were approved by voters this past November.

Again, the key to success was the identification of clear project lists, broad grassroots activism and business community support.

“When you make a specific request of people – ‘do you want this kind of project, thids set of transportation options in your community and are you willing to pay for it?’ – the data is pretty unambiguous,” Jordan said.  “Most of the time the answer to the question is yes.”

I was speaking to a traffic engineer for the City of Urbana Ohio earlier this month and he made a point about remote access traffic control systems that I’ve never heard before — but it seemed so obvious once he pointed it out. He said that for many applications, traditional remote management systems simply make no sense.

Urbana had just bought a half dozen school zone flashers that they installed alongside busy roads next to the town’s three elementary schools. The flashers were purchased from Information Display Company and are scheduled to automatically turn on during school zone hours when passing drivers need to slow down. The system also came with remote access capabilities that allow designated officials to monitor and schedule/reschedule all six flashers from a remote location.

Problem is, most of these remote systems are designed to be accessed from a single central “command center”. Now I know this might sound impressive. It kind of evokes an image of NASA’s steam of scientists hovering around banks of computer screens during the moon landing. In fact, it’s usually an older PC hidden on a desk in some back office somewhere.

The problem with these systems is that someone has to be at that central office location to access and monitor the remote traffic system. And as the engineer pointed out, in many cases, the same circumstances that precipitated the need to monitor or reschedule the system in the first place often makes it impossible for anyone to get to that remote location.

The school chose the unit from Information Display System because its remote office solution could be set up with ‘anywhere access” capabilities. If the school administrator wakes up at 4am and looks out the window to find five feet of new snow on the ground, he or she doesn’t have to commandeer the treacherous roads to get to the remote office. Instead, the system can be accessed from the computer in his or her home office, or the one in the kids room, or even the laptop in the kitchen. If it has Internet access, it’s good to go.

Makes sense, doesn’t it? The idea for Information Display Company’s ‘anywhere access’ approach to remote management was actually born out of conversations with customers. In fact, a large percentage of company installations require one type of customization or another. Some of these projects, like ‘anywhere access’ wind up going mainstream. That’s par for the course at Information Display Company.

Do you have a special challenge with your own traffic calming needs? Perhaps a concern over the use of solar powered speed signs or speed trailer design. I’d love to hear about it. Bet you can’t stump our engineers.

If you’re a regular reader of this blog, you have undoubtedly reviewed various discussions on what makes radar speed displays so effective. It usually comes down to their unique ability to grab driver attention and redirect their thoughts to their current rate of speed. So the link between speed displays and counteracting driver distraction is clear.

Reducing driver distraction is also a top priority at the U.S. Department of Transportation which last week announced that it was kicking off a new federal grant program to fight distracted driving. Their main target is new teenage drivers who text and drive.

The grant provides about $17.5 million in 2013 to states that are aggressively fighting distracted driving. To qualify, the state must have laws in place that allow police to pull over and cite any driver they think is driving distracted, including texting while driving. States will have 45 days to apply for the grant once it is published in the Federal Register.

Along with the enforcement grant, the USDT is also providing an additional $5 million for NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) to create an advertising campaign aimed directly at supporting state enforcement of laws directed at curbing distracted driving habits. The announcement of this grant coincides with the kickoff of a Public Service Announcement campaign with the same goal in mind. The PSAs feature cast members of the television show GLEE who warn viewers about the dangers associated with texting and other cell phone usage while driving.

According to NHTSA, well over 3,000 people were killed in distracted driving-related crashes in 2010. An additional 416,000 were injured in these types of accidents.

Other facts to consider:

• On average, your eyes are off the road approximately 5 seconds while texting. If you’re traveling at 55 mph, that enough time to cover the length of a football field.
• A texting driver is 23 times more likely to get into an accident than a non-texting driver.
• About 18% of distracted driving-related accidents involve the use of a cell phone.
• Even hands-free cell phone usage can impair driving with the affect being similar to having a blood alcohol concentration of .08 percent.
• 60% of drivers report using cell phones while driving.  About half of drivers under the age of 35 who own cell phones send or read text messages while driving.

Here’s a whammy out of left field.  Traffic fatalities shot up 13.5 percent in the first few months of this year. That’s after a steady decline in first quarter fatalities that began in 2006 and an overall steady decline that has continued since the early 1970s.

So what happened? No one seems to know for sure, but we do know that about 7,630 people lost their lives in car accidents so far this year (through March) compared to 6,720 fatalities during the same time period in 2011.

Some speculate that it’s due to the warmer weather across the country. Less snow in the wintertime led to more driving, which led to more accidents. I guess that makes sense.  Preliminary data from the Federal Highway Administration confirms that travel over the first three months of 2012 increased by about 9.7 billion miles. That’s 1.4% more driving than in 2011.

A disappointing factor in these new statistics is the fact that they are the first signs of an increase in fatal accidents since the FHA began focused efforts to make our roads safer. In the early seventies, the federal government, with the help of AAA, local agencies and others, began a concerted effort to reduce accidents through education programs, research and the implementation of safe driving practices. And it worked. In 1972, the Department of Transportation reported 54,589 auto-related deaths. Last year, that number was closer to 7,000 -  a 60 year low.

But clearly, there is more work to do. Driver distractions have only increased, and with that distraction comes an increased risk of accidents. That’s a proven fact.

So as you hit the road – on your way to work or for your family vacation- be sure to buckle up, put down your smart phone, pay attention to the rules of the road and stay safe. We’ve got some safe driving catching up to do to get those statistics back on track for the remainder of 2012.

Before they can tackle their speeding problems, it looks like the city of Belleair, Florida needs to tackle their “how do we tackle” problem.

The town’s mayor and four commissioners met a few weeks back to talk about putting together a traffic calming policy – a systematic way to prioritize projects and solve those problems on the top of the list. First issue to decide is whether or not to have an official traffic calming policy in the first place. It appears that at least one of the commissioners feels that any policy will only hinder, rather than speed up the “fixing” portion of the equation.

Others point to examples where a lack of policy made matters worse. The mayor cited an instance where residents of one neighborhood demanded a speed bump be installed on one of the streets where speeding cars were a particular problem. Soon after, the same residents demanded that the speed bump be removed.

“If they had a policy in place that included consulting a traffic engineer or traffic calming manager before engaging in the project, chances are it would never have been approved,” said Gary O’Dell, president of Information Display Company – experts in traffic calming technology. These specialists understand that ‘easy’ solutions such as speed bumps aren’t always the panacea that the general public often believe them to be.”

There are hundreds of traffic calming studies that evaluate the effectiveness of various methods for slowing cars under various conditions. Most traffic engineers know that potential problems and limitations of using speed bumps are well documented – from increased traffic noise and impeding emergency vehicles, to endangering bicyclists and causing unintended rerouting of traffic onto other quieter streets.

“ I once spoke to a mayor of a city that was so incensed by his own neighborhood speeders that he had a speed bump installed right in front of his home,” said O’Dell After several weeks of hearing the incessant bang and rattle of cargo hit the bed of crossing trucks, he had the speed bump removed.”

Traffic calming experts also stay on top of the latest innovations in the field. Today, breakthroughs in digital technology are shining a spotlight on a variety of new intelligent traffic management solutions. The latest advances in LED displays, software integration and design have increased both the functionality and effectiveness of radar speed signs and other proven traffic calming solutions.

Experts can play an instrumental role in solving problems. They have insights and knowledge that others simply do not – that’s why they are called experts. Hopefully the good folks of Bellaire will put in place a policy that gets this input early on in the process. In the meantime, the commissioners have decided to give the issue more study.

Do radar speed signs in your neighborhood help drive up the price of your home? Consider this. Several recent studies have directly linked home prices with a neighborhood’s “walkability” – that is, how easy it is for locals to stay on their daily schedule and get stuff done without having to get in their cars.

The Demand Institute – a think tank associated with the TV ratings company, Nielsen — recently issued a report on the housing recovery market that found home prices are finally beginning to increase…in select markets, that is. According to the report, one of the biggest determining factors of where this recovery is taking place has to do with the areas “walkability.” The more easily it is for kids to walk to their school and for homeowners to walk to the local grocery store or coffee shop, the more likely it is that home prices are beginning to climb in the area.

In another study reported on the Network blog Market Urbanism, researcher Emily Washington looked at home values and walk scores in 259 cities across the U.S. The correlation was clear. The more walkable the neighborhood, the more likely it is that housing prices are in recovery mode.

Safe Routes To School (SRTS), a national campaign that encourages school children to walk or ride their bikes to school, has been promoting walkability for years. And they do much more than simply talk about its benefits. Over the past several years the organization has been working with local school districts and regional governments to create or improve existing walkable school routes. Their efforts have included things like building sidewalks, clearing paths and managing traffic patterns. They’ve also, in many cases, helped erect traffic calming solutions aimed at slowing cars and increasing pedestrian safety. One of their most popular traffic calming solutions of choice is the use of radar speed signs to slow cars around school zones.

In the past few years, Information Display Company has worked with various SRTS chapters to help install SpeedCheck signs along school routes where speeding traffic is a concern. No sooner are the speed displays in operation than a change in traffic behavior is observed. Brake lights come on and cars slow down. The radar speed signs have played a critical role in making these school routes safer to walk.

And it doesn’t stop there. SpeedCheck radar speed signs are being used in hundreds of cities across the U.S. to slow traffic and increase safety. They have become an increasingly ubiquitous element in today’s most walkable cities.

So it’s not such a stretch to see how radar speed signs are connected to home prices and the market recovery. Radar speed signs help make neighborhoods more walkable. The more walkable an area is, the more likely it is to be on en economic rebound.

Curious about your own neighborhood? You can see how your area ranks in walkability at www. http://www.walkscore.com/. You can also check out the neighborhood’s ranking for bike-ability and transit-ability.

Looks like we can add Spokane Valley to the list of believers. For years, the city struggled to bring down the speeds of drivers passing through the city’s various school zones. Prominently displayed speed limit signs didn’t do the trick. Neither did regular patrolling by the Spokane Valley Police Department. The police were writing lots and lots of speeding tickets.

So several years ago, the City of Spokane, armed with a project grant from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, purchased several SpeedCheck radar speed signs and flashing beacons. The equipment was installed along four different school zones where student safety was of particular concern due to the high rate of those that walked or biked to school.

The difference was clear. Measurement equipment verified that average speeds during the 20mph school zone time periods, were reduced by as much as 19.3 percent. The 85^th percentile speeds (a measure of the fastest speed at which 85% of the traffic travels) dropped from 33.4 mph to 22.8mph.

That’s not all. The crossing guards noticed that cars were traveling slower when the speed signs and flashing beacons were in operation. The Spokane Valley Police Department reported that they were able to issue only one speeding ticket during the first 70 days following the installation of the speed-reducing equipment.

So we’ll add another city to our “believers” list. You can find a growing sample of stories involving government agencies, municipalities, cities, school boards and others who’ve reduced speeds and increased safety with SpeedCheck radar speed signs on our website: www.informationdisplay.com.

Like it or not, certain locations have stereotypical reputations. New Yorkers are rude. Texans are loud. And Boston drivers….well, let’s just say you wouldn’t want your grandma to be caught driving there during morning rush hour. Real or not, Boston drivers surely have one of the worst reputations in the country.  All you have to do is call someone a “Boston Driver” and they immediately understand you’re accusing them of being aggressive and heavy on the gas pedal.

Can Radar Speed Signs Help?

Well the Boston city council has had enough and is aiming to do something about it. Earlier this week, council member Matt O’Malley, unanimously backed by the other city council members, called on the city to take a serious look at traffic calming measures. Over the next several weeks, local and state traffic law enforcement agencies will be getting together with a variety of Boston organizations and local residents to discuss preferred methods for slowing speeding drivers.

O’Malley said that all traffic calming options were on the table so long as they do not interfere with emergency response vehicles – a critical stipulation that will, according to a variety of recently published reports, reduce the options available in many locations.

Speed Cushions, speed bumps, and even things like rumble strips and median islands have been shown to be inhospitable to fire trucks and other emergency vehicles. Other preliminary suggestions such as public awareness campaigns and warning signs have proven, in many cases, to be ineffective. O’Malley said he was even open to the idea of installing speed cameras, but if he hopes to be re-elected, he may want to review the mounting body of news articles showing residential outrage over such automated revenue-generating tactics.

Of course, we here at Traffic Calming Matters are partial to the use of radar speed signs in many locations. That’s because (a) they do not impede emergency vehicles (b) they do not necessary result in ticket issuing and (c) they are proven again and again to be highly effective – particularly around school zones, work zones and other locations where pedestrian safety is of particular concern.

The reason they are so effective as that radar speed signs work by refocusing the attention of distracted drivers back on to the job at hand – driving safely. As O’Malley points out, most drivers (even in Boston) are good drivers. Research suggests that it only requires the type of reminders that radar speed signs provide to get these drivers back in focus.

In his statement to the press, O’Malley noted that there have been numerous studies done of late that look at methods used in other major cities to “balance and protect the safety of livability of residential neighborhoods with emergency service needs.” So, if they do their homework and look at the evidence provided by these types of studies, you can be assured that there will be a lot more radar speed signs in Boston’s future.

If you’ve been reading the “traffic press” lately, you’ve probably heard that many of the parents of Blue Angel Elementary School in Pensacola, Florida are pretty excited about some new radar speed signs installed around their elementary school. The displays are two of six SpeedCheck signs that have recently been installed in the surrounding Escambia County and part of the thirty or so SpeedCheck signs that were recently purchased by the Florida DOT following a rigorous review of speed displays manufactured by various companies.

The folks at Information Display Company are pretty excited about being the first manufacturer to make the FDOT’s approved product list and they attribute this accomplishment not only to superior product quality and features but also to unmatchable customer service. It seems that radar speed signs are rarely off-the-shelf purchases but rather require some level of customization to fit specific needs. Maybe it’s synchronized scheduling capabilities or special message displays – or maybe it’s just help with installation. Turns out Information Display wins top honors for responding to these special requests.

Oh yes, I should mention that the Escambia County speed displays were purchased as part of a “safe routes to school” program set up in the state. I was told by the county’s safety coordinator that not only were the traffic calming effects of the speed signs immediately apparent, but along with added street lighting, sidewalks and other route improvements, they are proving to have a real impact on getting both school children and local residents out of their cars and on their feet – and that’s good news for everyone.