volume of traffic devices

[brian j john]

you know those two strips that are put across the road and are connected to a box that measures the volume of traffic and giving that they are set apart can it also measure the speed of the vehicle that passes over it meaning that it can calculate the speed by the time each one is depressed

[sddsddean]

I suppose theoretically they could Brian, but be assured that the '2 rubber strip' counters are purely that. The council are counting the number of axles (as opposed to vehicles) which use a particular section of road. This information is then used to decide on the level of any road maintainence eg plane out and re lay the 40mm wearing course or a complete re build.

[Melliexr]

I'm afraid I belong to the School of Cynicism and Suspicion. One stretch of B-road near where I live recently had a series of these installed, about five of them within the same one mile stretch. Suspiciously, they stopped just before the point where the speed limit changes from 40mph to National Speed Limit (60 in this case). Soooo.......if they're just counters, why so many? And why just in the area where speed may be a problem? (near two schools and a few shops). I think the data is used to calculate average speed, to see if it's worthwhile setting up a speed camera, possibly even a time/distance SPECS system.

[qapmoc]

Hi Melliexr,  you may be correct but if the counters are used as speed checking devices "close to a school and shops" then for me anybody speeding and gets caught is just too bad anyway.

[cleedaub1]

Further to the above, are the sets of painted transverse strips seen on major roads used for checking vehicle speeds, using some kind of vehicle-mounted "bar code reader", and if so, by whom ?

[Melliexr]

Also.....if the rubber strips are only used to measure number of axles, why have a pair? Surely one rubber strip could do that....?

[Eddiecurrent]

When there is one strip this merely counts the number of axles (vehicles). Where ther are two strips this can be used to determine the speed of the vehicles passing over the strips and also the direction of travel. The two strips are placed at a predetermined distance apart and can determine the speed of the vehicles.