Speed Enforcement
to display specific warning messages to drivers if vehi- bility of the product and long-term maintenance costs.
cle speeds are detected above preset threshold levels. A new entrant into the US market for ITS devices, Telegra
Radars were set to detect the speeds of incoming vehi- can provide assurances in all these areas. Furthermore,
cles at a distance of about 400 to 600 feet away and to innovation has set Telegra apart from its peers.
display a message, “YOU ARE SPEEDING. SLOW DOWN.” For over 20 years, Telegra has been engaged in the
The study confirmed that vehicle speed was reduced by design, development, manufacture, installation and
8 to 9 mph with the presence of the DMS. maintenance of traffic and telecommunications systems
and devices for highways and tunnels. The application
Ahead of the curve of the highest international business and technical
In another application in Myrtle Creek, Oregon in 2006, standards has resulted in a broad range of competitive
an advanced curve warning system (ACWS) was imple- products in the field of traffic monitoring and control
mented by the Department of Transportation which together with telecommunications.
consisted of a radar unit for speed measurement and a Telegra enjoys a reputation of expertise in the ITS
dynamic message sign that displayed the speed of the industry, successfully delivering systems and finished
vehicle. Despite additional warning signs and other projects that provide quality at all levels. They continu-
modifications, some curves continued to be a problem. ously invest in research and development to provide
But the implementation of ITS technology such as the state-of-the-art products for their markets, such as all
advanced curve warning system enhanced the effec- sizes of variable message/dynamic message signs
tiveness of the static warning devices. (VMS/DMS), and as evidenced by their award-winning
The qualitative results of a survey of motorists revealed LED Speed Matrix Display (LSMD).
that most drivers (76 per cent) slowed down in response Besides employing Telegra’s unique and highly visi-
to the dynamic message signs that display their speed ble LED technology for the optional VMS/DMS board
on each approach. Approximately half of the motorists and speed display, the radar detection system can be
surveyed who did not slow down indicated that they configured to not only detect and display speed, but
were already traveling below the advised speed. A total also count and classify vehicular traffic. Telegra’s prod-
of 79 per cent of drivers noted the sign
was placed in an adequate location and
“There is one work
ucts can be pole-mounted for perma-
nent positioning or trailer-mounted for
84 per cent of drivers thought the sign zone fatality every mobile services such as temporary
information aided in the safe navigation
of the curves.
10 hours and one
work zones, school zones, or rural envi-
ronments and problem areas. The
The quantitative results using a laser work zone injury trailer and power unit have been
speed detection device in Oregon
proved that the ACWS was effective in
every 13 minutes”
designed with quick mount and
dismount features that make reconfigu-
reducing the mean speeds of passenger cars and trucks ration for different types of signage easy, quick and con-
by approximately three miles/hour and that there was a venient.
statistically different distribution of vehicle speeds by
vehicles in higher speed categories meaning that fewer Practice makes...
drivers were speeding excessively. In 2008, Telegra received the Best Innovative Practice
Award from ITS America and the Global Road Achieve-
You have been warned ment Award for Safety from the International Roads Fed-
A final example of proven effectiveness of speed warn- eration in 2009 for its deployment of cutting-edge direct
ing devices is in Glenwood Canyon, Colorado in 2001. methanol fuel cell technology (DMFC) to provide a reli-
One of the FHWA “best practices” is installing speed able, low cost, low maintenance, and non-polluting
warning systems for crash prevention and safety. A source of power for their trailer-mounted LSMD.
speed warning system was installed in September 1996 Fuel cell technology is rapidly growing in acceptance
to improve safety and reduce truck accidents on a steep and use for a variety of applications. However, some of
section of highway. the limiting factors in development of moderately
Radar detected the speed of vehicles and if they were priced and safe fuel cell use have been in the types of
determined to be speeding, a dynamic message sign fuel used to power the fuel cell itself. Most fuel cells are
was activated that read, “YOU ARE SPEEDING AT XX powered by hydrogen, which can be fed to the fuel cell
MPH. 45MPH CURVE AHEAD.” Speeding studies con- system directly or can be generated within the fuel cell
ducted before and after the system was activated indi- system by reforming hydrogen-rich fuels such as meth-
cated that the warning system reduced by 27 per cent anol, ethanol, and hydrocarbon fuels. These fuel cells
trucks that were speeding between 66 and 48mph. require a complex source of hydrogen or hydrogen-rich
These are but a few examples of the effectiveness of fuels, and a bulky and complex system of converters.
radar enabled speed detection and display devices on DMFCs, however, are powered by pure methanol, which
reducing vehicle speed. But what differentiates one is mixed with steam and fed directly to the fuel cell
speed detection and display device from another? What anode.
factors should be considered when selecting a product Power generation in a DMFC produces only carbon
to install? Besides competitive pricing of course, other dioxide and water vapor, in amounts comparable to a
factors include the reputation of the company, the relia- child’s breath. The fuel cells thus meet the strictest envi-
60 Vol 4 No 1 Thinking Highways www.thinkinghighways.com
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