Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced that road fatalities in 2010 were the lowest they’ve been since 1949.  That’s quite awhile ago.

In 1949, a new VW bug cost about $900. There were only two of them sold in the U.S.  Gas cost 26 cents a gallon and the Hokey Pokey was a radio hit. Also in 1949, laws prohibiting the installation of TVs in cars were first enacted – some of the first color sets were just hitting the market. It was also this year that the Nash Motor Company introduced the first front seat lap belt (optional). Auto production reached about 5 million.

And in 1949, just over 30,000 people died in traffic-related accidents – the same as 2010 – a decrease of about 3 percent from 2009.  Traffic fatalities this past year were particularly evident in Pacific Northwest states – Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Montana and Alaska – where they dropped about 12 percent from the year before. California, Arizona and Hawaii were close behind.

The DOT gives credit for this reduction to several factors including more people wearing seat belts, better safety equipment in cars and a greater focus on curbing drunk driving. I’d like to add another to this list – the use of traffic calming technologies such as radar speed signs in worker- and pedestrian-sensitive locations.

As discussed in earlier blog posts, studies have clearly shown that traffic accident-related fatality rates are directly linked to the speed of the vehicles involved. In a school zone, for instance, an accident involving a pedestrian and a car traveling 25mph vs one traveling 30 mph can be the difference between a resulting cast or a casket.  

The numbers just released by DOT are projections for 2010. Official data regarding deaths and injuries are due out later this year. Of course, we’ll keep you posted.

The purpose of this blog is to share the latest information and thoughts about traffic calming and safety technology and we’ve had some great discussions on various related topics.  So is it ok to get excited about our own products when they do really well in the marketplace? I can’t help it. Information Display Company puts so much thought and effort into designing and manufacturing the best traffic calming displays made, we get excited when our products and services continue to get industry acclaim. 

We recently introduced a speed trailer that was really a game changer. Editorial coverage of the SpeedCheck DuraTrailer confirmed it’s revolutionary place in an area that has been stagnant for so long.  And when I learned about how the SpeedCheck radar speed sign rose above competitive products during a city evaluation, and how that city has really embraced these speed displays for their ability to improve school zone safety, I couldn’t help but share the info with everyone. 

The city of Stamford Connecticut recently purchased ten new radar speed signs to support their ongoing school safety initiatives. That brings the total number of city-owned speed displays to thirty-four. They soon hope to have enough radar speed signs installed along their various school zone routes to slow cars around each of their twenty public school buildings.

Stamford bought their first radar speed sign about nine years ago, after conducting field testing on several different models. They ultimately chose SpeedCheck speed displays manufactured by Information Display Company. According to Veera Karukonda, Signal Systems Engineer for the city of Stamford, the SpeedCheck signs were chosen for several reasons.

“A comparative analysis found that the SpeedCheck sign provided the best construction and most visible display among those we tested,” said Karukonda. “The size, shape and design of the SpeedCheck display created the most official looking sign among the test group and it offered many of the features we were looking for. We were also impressed with the dedicated service that we received from Information Display Company.”

In the past, the city’s team of signal engineers had to manually open and adjust each radar speed sign when upgrades or scheduling changes needed to be implemented. Now each of the signs includes Bluetooth wireless technology that lets the engineers make firmware upgrades and scheduling changes from the comfort of their car. The city also invested in Information Display Company’s DisplayManager™ system that, when in operation, will allow city engineers to monitor, adjust and control each sign from one central office location.

Each of the radar speed signs are installed along with two flashing warning lights; one above and one below the speed display. Both the sign and the flashing lights are connected to the SpeedCheck sign’s built in scheduling program. During school hours, the lights automatically begin to flash and the speed signs remind drivers of their passing speed. Most importantly, the radar speed signs refocus driver attention away from various distractions and back on their own driving behavior.

In a recent study conducted by Safe Kids USA, one in six drivers traveling through one of several active school zones was observed in a state of distraction. According to the accompanying report, statistics show that even small distractions can dramatically increase the chance of an accident. 

If you’ve had experience with SpeedCheck speed displays or any other radar speed signs or if you’ve tried other traffic calming strategies, I’d love to hear about it. What worked for you and what didn’t?

The data is in and the results are clear. Radar speed signs work in work zones. The same electronic displays that have been used effectively to slow cars in school zones and around neighborhood streets can have a dramatic impact on worker safety in work zone applications as well.

In a 2008 study conducted by the Texas Transportation Institute, radar speed signs topped the list of safety devices tested in short-term maintenance work zones. The speedcheck signs not only provided the largest speed reduction among the various traffic-calming methods reviewed, but workers reported that when mounted onto a trailer, the installation and removal of the signs was reasonable for even short-term work zone projects.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation first began using radar speed signs in work zones several years ago. Originally embraced by the department’s metro area maintenance crews, the electronic displays helped keep traffic moving at a safe speed while workers filled potholes. As the effectiveness of the speedcheck signs became clear, demand for their use spread. Today, Mn/DOT has expanded the deployment of radar speed signs to include use in construction sites, on ongoing maintenance projects and for other hazardous work zone applications.

“We often mount a radar speed sign along with an arrow board to the tail gate of one of our trucks,” said Marvin Sohlo, work zone standards engineer for MnDOT. “When we use the radar speed signs, it’s easy to observe the break lights come on. On a multi-lane highway, we’ve found average speeds are typically reduced by 8 to 10 miles per hour.”

Reducing speed is a critical issue for those concerned with work zone safety. According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) nearly 1,000 people are killed and more than 40,000 injured each year as a result of motor vehicle crashes in work zones. The majority of these cases involve excessive speeds.

“It’s estimated that more than 20 percent of our national highway system is currently under construction,” said Gary ODell, president of Information Display Company, a leading U.S. manufacturer of radar speed signs. “That equates to about 3,000 work zones on U.S. highways alone. You can add thousands more when you include work being done on public streets, around construction sites and on public works projects.”

Tad Blanton is the field operations supervisor for Medford, Oregon Public Works. He manages four crews that work year round on every type of public works project from underground maintenance to structural repairs, paving and concrete work. Concerned with worker safety, he attended a demonstration of a portable radar speed sign presented by IDC, and then signed up for a three-week free rental program.

“Providence brought the radar speed sign to us just when we needed it,” said Blanton. “We were about to begin work on a storm drain repair along the intersection of a busy four lane thoroughfare. We placed the sign about 350 feet before the work. The crew that I had out there said that the difference the display made was absolutely unbelievable. I knew are traditional warning signs wouldn’t of had nearly the same effect.”

As we begin the new year, we can add Kansas to the list of 30 states that now ban text messaging while driving. This ban, along with a variety of other new driver safety regulations being adopted across the country, reflect a growing concern over the effect that driver distractions are having in causing accidents.

According to statistics gathered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2009 5,474 people in the U.S. were killed in accidents involving distracted drivers. Well over 300,000 injury crashes reportedly involved driver distraction as well. In fact, actual numbers are generally assumed to be much higher since drivers do not always report the role that cell phones, GPS systems and other distractive devices played in their accidents.

Still, the number of distracted driving-related fatalities continues to increase from year to year. In 2005 the distracted driver-related fatality rate was estimated at 10 percent of all driving fatalities as compared to 16 percent in 2009.

Those are the numbers. The real stories behind the statistics can be seen in a video campaign developed by U.S. Department of Transportation called Faces of Distracted Drivers. Each video in this series offers testimonials from those affected by the accidents involving distracted drivers. Pretty powerful stuff.

I must add that while new technologies such as texting or GPS devices are usually targeted as the root cause of driver distractions, some point to the fact that newly implemented laws that ban the use of hand-held cell phones while driving (in favor of hands-free devices) have “produced no impact on accident rates.” According to a piece published in the WSJ, it’s not that distraction doesn’t play a role in accidents – it does. It’s argued that drivers simply substitute one distraction for another. The rise of cell phone driving-related accidents is – according to the author – simply due to the increased use of cell phones in general.

Either way, the list of potential distractions seems to be on the increase. Despite some concerns, Onstar is about to introduce an application that will allow drivers to verbally update their Facebook status and review their messages while behind the wheel. Ford’s Sync technology will connect a variety of different GPS and smart phone applications with voice command. Not to be outdone, Toyota just announced future plans for its Entune Multimedia System which will allow drivers a “hands free” way to read text messages, play music and interact with other smart phone apps.

So like it or not, it appears that distractions will play a significant role in thousands of serious automobile accidents each year. Instead of banning distractions – an impossible task I suppose – I predict that we will turn instead to making cars and transportation systems smarter. Our cars will have sensors that keep our distractions from interfering with safe driving. Perhaps smart road signs and lane barriers will keep us on track while we text grandma that we are on the way to Thanksgiving dinner.

We are already seeing these types of intelligent traffic systems being installed and implemented. As I’ve pointed out in earlier posts, the proven traffic-calming effectiveness of radar speed signs – those digital displays that tell passing drivers their actual speed – is directly related to their ability to disrupt distractions and refocus driver attention back to their current rate of speed. Variable message signs that tell drivers to slow down or to watch for obstructions ahead are also examples of distraction-busting technology.

It’s a pretty safe bet that we will all see an increase in the number of gadgets and applications we will have to distract us on our drive. Until such times as technology completely takes over and our transportation becomes a completely hands free experience, we’ll see cities and towns across the country turn to smart displays and other intelligent traffic systems to help us safely reach our destinations.

Happy New Year and welcome to 2011. It’s a new day.

And for the world of traffic-calming radar speed signs, the new year is starting off with quite a stir. The folks at Information Display Company just introduced a new MUTCD- and NHTSA-compliant speed trailer that is creating a real buzz throughout the industry. But just look at it. You can instantly see why.

A Real Game Changer

Yes, that’s a speed trailer – the new SpeedCheck DuraTrailer. Turns out that after about a zillion years of the same old speed trailer design, the engineers at IDC thought it was time for a change. The old design had so many flaws but was so ubiquitous for so long, that we’ve all assumed that’s simply the way it is. IDC engineers thought differently.

It started with a simple question, “Why are so many portable radar speed signs left back in the warehouse rather than being deployed with work crews or traffic patrol units?” More often than not, the answer they found pointed to the speed trailer – the equipment that was used to transport the radar speed signs from place to place: they were heavy and hard to maneuver, they were often broken or in some state of disrepair. They were hard to set up. In a nutshell, if the speed trailers were working at all, they were just too big of a pain to use.

Now comes the SpeedCheck DuraTrailer.

Rethinking speed trailer design from the ground up, the DuraTrailer is an entirely new beast. Here’s just a few of the differences:

• It’s lightweight and balanced. One person can easily move it manually from place to place and hook it up to a car or truck.
• It’s made to last. For instance, it incorporates a heavy duty galvanized frame that cane easily withstand the worst road salt and weather conditions.
• Its one-piece molded cover completely protects the speed trailer’s components from the elements and WONT RUST.
• The offset pole design brings the display up front and closer to the view of the driver. The low footprint makes sure workers and pedestrians are clearly visible and not hidden by the machinery.
• It’s simple to remove the radar speed sign so you can use the display for other applications. Or you can easily replace the radar speed display with a variable speed limit sign, intelligent traffic sign or other display.

This isn’t the first innovation introduced by Information Display Company. These are the same guys that have patents and unique designs that upped the bar for vandal resistance, remote office functionality, glare resistant displays and multi-display time sync. It’s nice to see U.S. ingenuity and manufacturing is still alive and well.

So here’s to a great year ahead. We’re out of the shoot with quite a blast.

Got a speeding ticket lately? Think it was unjust? Think that the only ones who really care about speeding are police officers looking to fill a quota?

Well, according to a new study by the California Office of Traffic Safety, you’d be wrong.

Radar Speed Signs - Driver Distraction Fighter

The study was the first statewide effort by the OTS to query drivers about their thoughts on road safety. Conducted back in July, the survey includes the results of 1,671 interviews of drivers 18 and over. Those chosen to participate in the survey were randomly selected while getting gas at one of sixty gas stations located throughout California.

Some of the survey findings were to be expected; others might be a bit of a surprise. The most notable finding was that 25 percent of respondents indicated that speeding is their number one safety concern on the road.  The second most common concern was drivers distracted by cell phone use – both talking and texting.

Of course, these findings serve to support the views of myself and other proponents of radar speed signs who believe these displays are often the best solution to traffic calming problems. Unlike static speed limit signs or flashing lights, radar speed signs redirect driver attention back to their own driving speeds. And unlike speed bumps, they do not impede emergency vehicles, increase traffic noise or simply divert traffic onto other streets. And for those opposed to “big brother” traffic calming tactics, radar speed signs typically work without the use of cameras and the associated threat of ticketing.

Other results of the survey include:

• While cell phone conversations were cited as the most serious distraction for drivers, more than 27 percent of respondents said that they still talked on a hand-held cell phone while driving in the past 30 days.
• 20 percent continue to text or email while driving despite the known dangers and laws.
• A total of 31.5 percent of respondents indicated that they talk less on cell phones since the hands-free law went into effect.
• Nearly 55 percent reported having been hit or nearly hit by a driver who was talking or texting on a cell phone.
• More than 86 percent of respondents supported sobriety checkpoints.
• More than 96 percent of respondents reported that they always wear a seat belt when driving.

In cities across the country, getting local governments to respond to traffic-calming issues can be difficult even during the best of times. It becomes even more difficult when times are tough and municipal funds are short.

There is hope however. Neighborhood groups and private citizens from San Jose, California to Brooklyn, New York are finding strategies that are getting the attention of their local representatives. Whether you’re looking to install a speed bump, erect a speedcheck radar speed sign or just get the police to monitor traffic during peak hours, here are a few tips on how you can increase your chances of being heard.

1.  Join a group. Look to see if there is already an existing sympathetic neighborhood organization you can join. Government reps are much more likely to listen to an established group than to a single individual. There are also federal traffic safety grants that are only available to civic groups and other established organizations.  aaaaa

2.  Create your own group. If there isn’t already an audience for your cause, create one. A good place to start would be existing clubs with sympathetic ears – perhaps bicycle riders, school moms or retail shop owners. 

3.  Get on the web. Starting your own blog or social network site is easy to do. They provide a perfect platform for expressing your concerns and a great way to enlist the help and support of others. Your blog or Facebook page will not only be visible to fans, but can also be shared with local reporters and government officials. As the number of participants and grows, so do your chances of getting heard by those that can make a difference. 

4.   Local programs. Most cities have comprehensive programs in place for evaluating and choosing traffic projects to attack. Processes for selection are usually well defined by city officials, so know the rules and see what you might be able to do to get to the top of the priority list.

5.   Apply for a grant. There are three types of grants generally available for traffic safety programs.  Federal grants, State grants and private grants. Thanks to the Internet researching these options is fairly easy to do. A good place to start is www.cfda.gov, a database of all Federal programs available to state and local governments. 

6.   Come prepared. There’s no easier way to persuade a reluctant official to your side of an argument than to come with the facts and figures that back you up. Learn in advance about the various options available for slowing cars (check out www.stopspeeders.org ). Some are less expensive than others. Some are easier to install. Find out what options your town usually employs and see how effective their results have been in the past. Technologies have changed over the last decade and what might have been the best solution in the past may now be overshadowed by newer, better options.

Why radar speed signs work

We know they work. Over the past dozen years or so, a variety of studies have shown that radar speed signs are effective at slowing cars. In some of these studies, they rank the highest among traffic-calming strategies being tested – better than rumble strips, flashing lights and even speed bumps.

Even more impressive is the fact that research has shown that they continue to slow cars even years after first being installed. I remember speaking with a campus police chief at a prestigious east coast university who told me their SpeedCheck signs have been dependably slowing cars for the past five years. I remember that his inflection expressed puzzlement. He knew they worked, he just didn’t know why. Now we do.

A recent report entitled Distracted Drivers In School Zones, sponsored by Safe Kids USA, sheds a spotlight on what is most likely the answer – radar speed signs directly address issues related to driver distraction.

In their study, researchers had trained observers set along a variety of school zones to record evidence of driver distraction. If they saw a driver talking on a cell phone, they wrote it down. If they saw a driver turning around to talk to a child in the back seat, they wrote it down. At the end of the study, they found that one in six drivers traveling through an active school zone was in a state of distraction. One in six!

SpeedCheck signs break through the distractions and serve to refocus driver attention on his or her speed. And that distraction-busting phenomenon never wears out. A passing driver sees their posted speed displayed on the sign face and immediately reacts.

That’s not true for other traffic-calming devices. Rumble strips make noise but don’t give driver’s the same kind of direct feedback that makes them slow down. Either does school zone signs, cross walks, speed bumps or anything else except perhaps a policeman aiming a radar gun. And unlike traffic officers, SpeedCheck radar speed signs don’t mind working 24/7 or require lunch breaks. 

A group of doctors in the Southeast Asian country of Laos are so excited about this little news bit that I had to share it with everyone here.

Doctors in Laos welcome the country's first radar speed sign

Not too long ago, Gary over at Information Display Company received an e-mail from a Dr. Guenther Slesak, a physician representing a group of doctors headquartered in Lao People’s Democratic Republic. As part of a medical team in the area, Dr. Slesak has been providing medical care to the citizens of Luang Namtha, the largest city in Luang Namtha Province.

In the e-mail, Dr. Slesak noted that the medical facilities where he works has seen a steady increase in patients sustaining injuries caused by traffic accidents. In fact, a study conducted by a local hospital found that beginning in early 2007, road traffic accident patients had become the most frequent cause of admissions to the facilities and that the category “traffic accidents” was informally labeled the “new epidemic disease” in the area. Furthermore, it was determined that the single largest contributing factor to the road traffic accidents was excessive speeding.

Out of desperation, Dr. Slesak began researching viable methods used to slow cars. Report after report highlighted the effectiveness of radar speed signs at reducing traffic speeds and decreasing accidents…and that led to his e-mail to Information Display Company.

A couple of months later, a new speedcheck sign arrived in Luang Namtha – the first ever in all of Laos. The medical team handed it over to the grateful provincial traffic police and the speed display’s posting was reportedly met with a small celebration from the locals. I’ll keep you updated as results of the radar speed sign’s effectiveness is evaluated.

When considering solar power vs A/C powered radar speed signs, the choice usually comes down to price. Solar powered speed displays have the added costs associated with the solar panels and batteries needed to power the unit.

On the other hand, hooking up to an existing A/C power supply can be much more expensive. Even when a power source is nearby, the cost of tearing up roads and sidewalks, running wire and installing a meter if necessary, can raise the initial investment price even more.

Fortunately, the choice is getting easier. Thanks to evolving LED technology and smart product engineering, new radar speed signs are being introduced that dramatically improve the energy efficiency of the speed displays. Lower power requirements result in the need for fewer/smaller solar panels and batteries. Smaller solar panels mean a dramatic reduction in product costs.

The difference in price can be striking. For instance, Information Display Company recently announced they had increased the energy efficiency of their radar speed signs by 50 percent. As a result, the cost for a solar powered package needed to run the more efficient speed display is about $800 – compared to a similar display from another manufacturer that requires a solar package priced at about $2,200.

Like any new or evolving technology, implementation of advancements can be slow for some– choosing the most efficient, up-to-date, products may require a bit of extra research but the rewards (and savings) can be substantial.