A Trailer by Any Other Name

SafePace Cruiser LT shown with SafePace 800 rotating sign

Some people think speed trailers are a ubiquitous term for all radar speed signs and speed display signs. They're not. Speed trailers are actually mobile devices that are used to mount speed signs for portable use. They are a versatile traffic calming tool and can be towed on the back of any vehicle and parked wherever speeding is a concern.

What sets the Traffic Logix SafePace Cruiser LT speed trailers apart? Well for one, as the photo on the left shows, the Cruiser LT includes a cool little feature that lets you rotate your sign either vertically or horizontally. But it doesn't end there. The Cruiser LT includes a whole host of features and options that make it the ideal accessory to help you use your speed signs more efficiently in slowing traffic down.

Where should you use your trailer? 

Do speed trailers really work? 

Learn the answers to these questions in our February newsletter, Product Spotlight: SafePace Cruiser LT Speed Trailers.

Can your car keep you and those around you safer on the roads?

Imagine a world where traffic crashes are a thing of the past and everyone is safe on the roads. Seems impossible, but Jesse Levinson, a research scientist at Stanford University, is working on making it a reality.

Jesse Levinson

There are already a vast number of optical and radar sensors monitoring cars on roadways across the country. Levinson's pedestrian detection system helps alert drivers to imminent collisions with auditory, visual, and mechanical warnings, and if necessary, takes automatic action to prevent an accident.

New systems such as these are cropping up, making use of computer algorithms and taking advantage of the dropping costs of sensors. While completely autonomous vehicles for mainstream use are still a long way off, detection systems such as these leave the driver in control, but can take over when the driver fails.

Four car manufacturers have announced that they will offer models this year that allow the car to drive itself in speeds up to 37 mph. This past November the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommended that all cars be equipped with collision avoidance technologies. In two states, California and Nevada, it is even legal to operate a self-driving car.

Cars that drive on their own are still in the development stages but there are many computerized systems such as the one developed by Levinson that help people drive safer, park easier, and prevent accidents and injuries.

Do you have a diet plan for your roads?

The new year has begun and people across the world have committed to healthier lifestyles. Now is the time to commit to healthier roadways too. Putting your road on a diet can do more than make you slimmer this year- it can save lives.

Wondering what a road diet is? Road diets are tools used by traffic engineers as part of a traffic calming plan to make streets safer and prevent accidents. Learn more about what a road diet is, how you can slim your roadway down, and whether a road diet is right for you.

Not ready for a road diet? Healthy streets go beyond just diet- learn techniques for safer and more complete streets in our January Traffic Calmer.

Do you Plan to Stay Safe this Holiday Season?

Everybody plans on staying safe during the holiday season. But each year, too many people are hurt and killed during the holidays due to traffic accidents. Why are people more at risk during the holiday season? What can you do to avoid accidents and ensure that you protect yourself and your family? What can you do to ensure that the streets of your city are safer for everyone?

Read our December newsletter and learn how and why you need to work to stay safe this holiday season.

There's a Better Way

Many cities are turning to speed cameras for a quick solution to stop speeders. It seems like a foolproof solution. But can technology make mistakes? You may be surprised by the answer.

Daniel Doty, a lawyer in Baltimore, MD, recently received a citation for speeding at 38 mph in a 25 mph zone. The citation included photos and a link to a 3 second video, both of which show that his Mazda was actually sitting still at a red light. Mr. Doty is contesting the $40 charge, but the repercussions are staggering. Thousands of speed tickets are issued each day. How many of them are mistakes?

Apparently speed cameras, thought to be infallible, are capable of errors. But when they do work, do they really work? Do they create changes in driver behavior?

Speed cameras may be effective in curbing behavior for the short term but they also create resentment, which may lead to drivers driving less safely instead of more safely on roads not outfitted with cameras. One organization in the UK claims that speed cameras actually do cause worse driver behavior. Is there a better way to slow drivers for the long run?

Unlike speed cameras, speed display signs simply alert drivers without penalizing them, trusting them to respond appropriately to the reminder. Speed signs create self-motivation and promote alertness that stays with drivers as they continue on new roads.

Radar signs provide accurate speeds and effective, long-term speed control. Do speed cameras?

Keeping Score

In Spokane, WA, a workshop was held earlier this week to instruct residents on how to apply for traffic calming measures on their streets. The funds to be used for the program come from the city's red-light enforcement program and include $140,000 for each city council district in the coming year.

Traffic Logix Rubber Speed Cushions

Neighborhoods need to rate their projects so that the ones with highest need are given funding priority. Four main categories are analyzed when assessing which projects should be funded: traffic volume, vehicle speeds, pedestrian activity, and the number of collisions.

Conducting such thorough traffic studies ensure that traffic calming solutions are installed where they're needed most instead of where residents are the most outspoken. Often, residents will overestimate the speeds of cars or number of pedestrians.

For more information on creating a point system for installing traffic calming solutions, visit the Traffic Logix Guide to Developing a Traffic Calming Program.

The Pivotal Role of Traffic Calming in Emergency Preparedness

Keeping Order/Avoiding Chaos In this issue: Keeping Order/Avoiding Chaos Keeping People Safe and Informed Emergency Preparedness Aiding the Recovery      On the Streets      Premiering      Did you Know?      Traffic Logix Tidbits Natural disasters such as the recent, catastrophic Hurricane Sandy put people’s lives, property, and possessions at risk. In any natural disaster, but particularly in an area unaccustomed to such conditions, panic can ensue. It can be difficult to keep people abreast of changes during an evacuation such as which routes are safe to take, how soon the storm will hit, and when it is no longer safe to be out on the roads. It can also be a challenge to ensure that motorists are driving safely and staying alert as they prepare for an upcoming storm. On the Streets Bloomberg news offers the following advice to New Yorkers looking to avoid traffic after Hurricane Sandy: Use your bike. Read the full story on Bloomberg News. Astoria, Queens Oct 29, 2012 Traffic Logix interviewed Mr. Frank Storch, an Emergency Coordinator for CERT (Community Emergency Response Teams) in Maryland with over 40 years of experience in safety and security management about the role of traffic calming solutions in natural disasters  Ocean City, MD and other emergency situations. Mr. Storch was enthusiastic about the role that variable message signs can fulfill in ensuring safety and protecting people and property. Keeping People Safe and Informed Premiering While radar speed signs are primarily used to slow traffic when speeding is a concern, they can also be a valuable emergency response tool. Mr. Storch suggested that variable message signs can be programmed to offer messages regarding traffic conditions, storm warnings, and in directing traffic along an evacuation route. New software program in Germany helps agencies deal with power outages more efficiently. Read the full article at the Science Daily. A sign such as the rotating SafePace 800 led sign, which offers a full matrix that can be used both to display speeds and for longer messages or graphics can help keep drivers safe and up to date. While static signs can notify people as well, they can be timely to deploy. Radar signs, however, such as the SafePace series, can be deployed in a matter of minutes when used with a speed trailer or dolly unit. In addition to offering notification, radar signs can serve the dual purpose of slowing drivers down and keeping them alert to changing road conditions. Did you Know? In 2011, 9 deaths were caused by hurricanes in the US as reported by the National Weather Service, the least of all categories of weather related fatalaties.Hurricane Sandy   alone has tragically taken over 100 lives. Read more here. Traffic Logix Tidbits Emergency Preparedness Dynamic messaging signs can also play a pivotal role in preparing and responding to emergencies. With the ability to schedule and update messages as needed as well as to display a series of messages one after another, these signs can help keep people informed and safe. They can also be economical since they can be used to control traffic all year long and do not need to be purchased only in an emergency.  “During the emergency evacuations prior to Hurricane Sandy, many people didn’t know which streets to turn down and where it was safe to drive,” said Mr. Storch. “Having signs with specific information such as that 13th St is now Northbound, or that the storm surge is expected at noon, could be extremely helpful in avoiding chaos and helping to evacuate large numbers of people efficiently.” Aiding the Recovery We’ll be attending the NLC Congress of Cities later this month from November 28-December 1 at the Boston Convention & Exposition Center. The Expo brings together local leaders from cities across the United States. If you’re in the area, we’d love to see you. Stop by our booth #1055 and say hello to our reps James Weatherall and Brett Ferrin! We'll have a great giveaway and our solutions for you to explore firsthand. In addition to keeping people informed during an evacuation, Mr. Storch noted that variable message signs can be useful in helping people to recover once the storm is over. The signs can be posted near local stores, letting people know where they can and cannot obtain necessary supplies and pharmaceuticals. They can notify those waiting in line at gas stations when the gas is depleted, helping them to avoid unnecessary waiting. On local roads, dynamic messaging can be invaluable and even lifesaving in letting people know which roads are closed due to flooding or tree falls as well as alternate routes to take instead. Signs that display driver speeds can also warn motorists to slow down when approaching roadways where they need to drive slower due to storm destruction or conditions.

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