Traffic safety is adapting with the times and adapting to weather conditions. Just recently the first weather-activated road signs in New Zealand were launched this past November 2015. The idea is to adjust the speed limits according to the weather and during road work in order to minimise the number of crashes. The first road signs are operational on the State Highway 29 with 22 signs from the Waikato and Bay of Plenty 12 km section. These signs, with 4 web cameras, are linked to a weather station at the peak of the Kaimai Range and are being monitored by the transport agency. Speeds will be adjusted anywhere between 30 km/hr and 100 km/hr according to weather/road conditions and will be enforced by police.
This particular area was chosen due to an extensive percentage of crashes related to driving too fast in inclement weather; and, due to the remoteness of the area about half of the signs will be powered by solar panels and wind turbines that don’t require electric cables to be laid or generators to be used.
Colin Brodie, the Transport Agency Chief Safety Adviser said that, “Our data shows that over 70 percent of the crashes on the Kaimai Range happen in wet weather and that over 40 percent of these were caused by drivers travelling too fast for the conditions,”.
He goes on to say that, “Despite the changeable weather on the Kaimai Range people still attempt to travel at 100km/h”. This area is known for being very steep and prone to uncertain weather conditions like rain, ice, high winds, and fog.
“These signs will allow us to drop the speeds to 60km/h on the Waikato side and 80km/h on the Bay of Plenty in adverse weather”.
“They will also be used during road works or in the event of a crash when speeds may be reduced to as low as 30km/h”.
Considering that about 9,000 vehicles use this section of the road, of those nearly 1,300 heavy vehicles, the potential to effect significant change is high.
This is testing ground for future implementation across New Zealand. Over the next two years, the trial will be monitored for effectiveness in reducing death and serious injuries. If the trial is a success over the next two years, Mr. Brodie says that similar weather-activated road signs, “may be rolled out across similar sites around New Zealand”.
Have you been on State Highway 29 and both seen and responded accordingly to these signs? Do you think an outcome of fewer crashes will result from weather activated road signs? Let us know.
