Beyond the obvious reasoning that traffic signals preserve safety at intersections and different junctures along a roadway, traffic signals are also largely responsible for maintaining a steady flow of traffic.
Most of the time, traffic signals are a passive factor in our lives. Much like driving in general, people often learn the patterns, speeds, signals, and overall behavior of traffic and it becomes a natural part of their usual commute around the city. So it’s rare that people actually ask themselves what the purpose of traffic signals actually is.
In 2017, 5,984 pedestrians were killed in motor vehicle accidents in the U.S., according to the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA). That marks the second year in a row that the death toll was near 6,000. Compared to less than 5,000 deaths in 2014, these recent statistics could point to an alarming trend in pedestrian safety.
There are a variety of factors that have contributed to the rise in pedestrian deaths from motor vehicle accidents, even while fatalities for other types of traffic accidents are declining. Possible reasons for increased pedestrian deaths include: more cars on the road, distracted driving, pedestrians distracted by smartphones, drugged driving, and drunk driving.
Gone are the days of worrying for the safety of students at Overton Ray Elementary School, located on a busy road in Burkburnett, Texas. In an effort to increase the safety for students and pedestrians, ELTEC worked in conjunction with Traffic Speed Modulation LLC and the city of Burkburnett to make this new technology of a retractable speed hump reality. Burkburnett is currently the only city in the country to use this technology, but this is only just the beginning.
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Thursday, ELTEC and 511 Technologies announced a strategic partnership to provide advanced cloud-connected products for the traffic and warning system industries.
The companies will collaborate to deliver an entire line of new IoTrafficTM products with a wide range of radio communication options that provide connectivity to the Internet as well as from sign-to-sign or “Machine to Machine” (or M2M).
Some sections of a road, street, or highway are more dangerous than others requiring extra safety measures especially when students are present. Sometimes you need an extra attention grabber instead of only a MPH sign to get a response from complacent motorists. That’s where ELTEC comes into the picture.
The primary measurement for choosing to install traffic warning signals is their effectiveness in deterring accidents. As you evaluate which type of system to add for new crosswalks, dangerous curves or intersections and other areas, you want to choose those that have proven to make areas safer.
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When a flash flood hits the West Bayou Oak subdivision in Houston, residents have only minutes to remove their vehicles from the parking area. In the past 10 years, the townhomes have had several vehicles totaled or severely damaged plus numerous repairs.
If you’re responsible for ensuring crosswalks, school crossings and residential streets are safe for your city, you understand what makes midblock crossings dangerous. Traditional warning signals do not offer enough protection for individuals crossing the street. These areas deserve special attention and additional warning systems to help prevent accidents. ELTEC also understands this danger. We’ve made it our business to keep people safe.
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Small towns have less vehicles, which generally means fewer traffic incidents compared to big cities. Yet these towns still have bodily injury accidents especially to pedestrians. Crossing the street can be even more dangerous in some areas because of fewer street lights. In fact, our local fire department’s ambulances are frequently called for ‘hit and run’ incidences. Neighborhoods with kids bicycling, families walking to and from parks, runners out for night exercise, all increase the likelihood of a pedestrian accident especially if they need to cross the street without the aid of a pedestrian crosswalk supported by flashing beacons. What’s worse is pedestrians in small towns can be more casual, less cautious.
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