New Innovations in Traffic Safety

Traffic safety has improved by leaps and bounds just in the last few years. Here are some of the newest innovations you may be seeing on a road near you quite soon:

Traffic Circles

While traffic circles have long been a staple of European cities, they haven't been as prevalent in the United States. Now, traffic circles are popping up in many cities and towns where intersections have become too busy and traffic too difficult to manage. Traffic circles are proven to reduce the amount of crashes when compared to traditional intersections. The use of traffic circles completely eliminates many common crashes, including head-on crashes and t-bone crashes, as well as crashes from behind. This is because the traffic flows in a circle, so the only possible crash is due to sideswiping. They are also good for keeping traffic flowing instead of stopping and starting. Look for traffic circles to become more ubiquitous in years to come.

LED Flashers

LED's have been used in many applications for traffic safety purposes. There are new applications which are becoming more common though. With the issue of wrong way drivers, flashing LED signs have proven to be far more effective than just a simple wrong way sign which contains no lights or flashing. By incorporating flashing lights with or around the sign, this dramatically increases the number of wrong way drivers who will notice the sign and be able to turn around before entering the highway. Studies have shown that lights help greatly, but flashing lights take the visibility to another level, saving lives in the process.

Glowing Deer Antlers

For states where deer collisions are a common issue, some animal organizations have begun painting the antlers of deer with a glow in the dark paint. The glowing nature of the paint makes the deer far more visible at night and easier to avoid without causing an accident.

Super-sized Road Flares

Another new innovation in traffic safety is the super sized road flare which features LED technology. These flares feature several different flashing light patterns and are smoke and flame-free. They are also self charging and can last up to 10 hours on one charge. In addition, they are crush-proof, corrosion resistant and waterproof.

Mobile Alert System

There are now sound alarm systems available which can be used with cones, barricades and barrels. The system blasts a 125dB sound when vehicle impact is detected, which allows both drivers and road workers to move away from the area.