Each year, the Austin, TX transportation department receives dozens and dozens of requests for traffic calming solutions from local residents who want to slow speeding drivers. The requests come from residents living on streets with high volumes of crashes where speed has been a contributing factor in numerous accidents, some involving pedestrians or bicycle riders. Driver speeds are often 5 – 20 miles above the posted speed limit.

However, the annual budget could only accommodate 14 projects featuring expensive street islands, pedestrian island and speed bumps. Of course, not every traffic calming need can be answered with driver feedback signs.  But, what if prioritization criteria also weighted for locations where affordable, effective options like radar speed signs could work?  Perhaps even more streets could be made safer.  And there would be no wait: driver feedback signs can be installed and implemented immediately without all the hassle and mess that comes with construction projects.  

Charlie Robeson: Radarsign™ Co-founder & Director of Sales and Marketing

 Traffic calming measures, like driver speed signs from Radarsign, play an important role in saving lives and keeping communities safe. When you look at statistics for automobile accidents (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), particularly those involving fatalities, speeding is overwhelmingly the common factor. The faster the driver is going, the more distance he or she travels before stopping and the greater the force of impact on collision. Here’s what officers have to say about the dangers of speeding:

“For every 10 mph you drive over the speed limit, your chances of getting seriously injured or killed if you are in a crash are double.” Trooper Jesse Grabow— Minnesota State Patrol.

“We notice a big difference when the Radarsign speed sign is in place making drivers more conscious of their speed.” — Captain Doug Weaver, City of Nappanee Police Department –Nappanee (IL)

“As traffic approaches the Radarsign speed sign, they slow down tremendously to meet the posted speed” — Deputy Chuck Davidson, Campell County Sheriff’s Dept – Mound City (SD)

Charlie Robeson: Radarsign™ Co-founder & Director of Sales and Marketing

Driver feedback signs from Radarsign may not be the solution for EVERY traffic calming need; however, comparatively, radar speed signs are a proven, effective solution at a fraction of the price.  And, the signs can be purchased, installed and fully operational within just a few weeks’ time.

The compounding issues of time, cost and effectiveness can be studied through the Central Richmond Traffic Calming Project in San Francisco, which has been underway since 2007. The project, which has been in progress for nearly six years, aims to improve pedestrian safety and slow down motorized traffic at selected intersections with traffic islands and bulbouts. However, many in the area do not believe that the design will increase their safety at all.

On top of the six-year time table, controversy surrounds the cost for the traffic islands, which is estimated at $10,000 to $75,000 per install. The cost for bulb-outs is even more expensive, ranging from $50,000 to $150,000. Time, cost and controversy: Important considerations for any traffic calming effort.

Charlie Robeson: Radarsign™ Co-founder & Director of Sales and Marketing

Radarsign armored driver feedback signs are intentionally built to be resistant to all types of environmental and man-made conditions...including bullets.  Recently this bullet-scarred radar speed sign arrived to the warehouse for a customer-requested modification. 

Though it took a bullet, the sign never failed. That’s because the armored design features commercial jet-grade aluminum and a bashplate that diffuses the force of impact.  You can see another example of the bullet-proof design here.

This wasn’t the first the first to take a bullet and survive…and it won’t be the last.

Charlie Robeson: Radarsign™ Co-founder & Director of Sales and Marketing

Communities across the nation and around the world are moving away from speed humps because they are: controversial, expensive to install, noisy, and they interfere with response times of emergency vehicles. And, as many municipalities have discovered, they are also expensive to remove, unless you do it like NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson does. While the controversy surrounding speed humps is serious business, this video from ESPN is an entertaining peek at the frustration many feel over speed humps.

Charlie Robeson: Radarsign™ Co-founder & Director of Sales and Marketing

Good stewardship of taxpayer resources starts with a little bit of research. This is especially true with traffic calming efforts as there can be overlap between local, state and federal jurisdictions. Skipping the credentialing stage could result in costly mistake.

This news story out of Sacramento County illustrates exactly why municipalities must ensure that they are working with a radar speed sign manufacturer that is aware of and adheres to government guidelines.    http://www.kcra.com/news/Some-radar-signs-could-be-illegal/-/11797728/18244572/-/m9hkgbz/-/index.html

Radarsign’s armored driver feedback signs are MUTCD compliant.  This is no accident.  Since 2003, when Radarsign’s armored design was still a concept, government guidelines for safety, readability and reliability have been been a primary focus. In fact, before the first sign was built, we asked industry experts to tell us what they did NOT like about existing radar speed signs and we engineered those things OUT of our design.  From the very beginning,our signs have been developed and manufactured for a purpose: to slow speeding drivers and be fully compliant with federal guidelines..

Charlie Robeson: Radarsign™ Co-founder & Director of Sales and Marketing

According to a Churchill Insurance study, 25% of autopilot drivers regularly break the speed limit, brake too late and don’t stop at pedestrian crossings because they haven’t seen them until it’s too late.

Want more information?  See this white paper, The Science Behind Radar Speed Signs as Neurobehavioral Activators

Charlie Robeson: Radarsign™ Co-founder & Director of Sales and Marketing

Lexan is a clear, protective cover that shields the LED lights from the elements. While other sign manufacturers use only a thin film, Radarsign engineers designed our signs with ¼ inch Lexan covers that:

• Provide UV protection
• Are shatterproof
• Are graffiti and abrasion resistant

In other words, they are made for the long haul.  Is your sign made for longevity?

Charlie Robeson: Radarsign™ Co-founder & Director of Sales and Marketing

Each year, AAA provides interesting projections for holiday travel.  For Thanksgiving 2012, AAA estimates that 43.6 million Americans will journey 50 miles or more from home for the holiday weekend.  Importantly, ninety percent of those travelers (39.1 million) will make their journey by automobile. That’s a lot of traffic.

What is not included is the projected number of speeders…wouldn’t that be an interesting stat! While we don’t know those figures, we do know that the onset of the holiday season brings added distractions. For drivers, those distractions can be the source of speeding, and speeding kills.   Remember to be vigilant and follow the speed limits this holiday season.  

Happy Thanksgiving!

Charlie Robeson: Radarsign™ Co-founder & Director of Sales and Marketing

Did you know that on average, twice as many kids are killed while walking on Halloween as compared to any other day of the year?

According to Safe Kids, simply talking to kids about pedestrian safety before trick or treating can make a tremendous difference and they are asking parents to pledge to do just that and more.

For more tips on keeping kids safe on Halloween and to Take the Pledge to Keep Your Children Safe While Trick-or-Treating, visit http://www.safekids.org/safety-basics/safety-spotlight/halloween-safety/.

Charlie Robeson: Radarsign™ Co-founder & Director of Sales and Marketing