In the UK 1,700 Network Rail bridges are hit each year by overheight vehicles, and upwards of 5,000 railway bridges are hit annually in the United States. As well as the danger to the life of the driver and other road users, bridge strikes typically cause a delay of more than 2 hours to rail services.
If any real change is to be made in the occurrence of bridge strikes, it is important to address the underlying cause. In 2011, Network Rail conducted a survey among drivers to determine key factors behind the incidents. 32% of the respondents named drivers not knowing their vehicle’s height as a cause; 22% highlighted poor route planning, and 15% indicated that drivers not understanding signs was a factor. This demonstrates that the main cause of bridge strikes is a lack of knowledge among drivers of their vehicle heights.
Coeval’s Overheight Vehicle Detection (OVD) System is designed to tackle the problem of bridge strikes at its root, with the power of intelligent technology. With a height tracking sensor, the system responds to the approach of an overheight vehicle, alerting the driver via an LED warning sign and diverting or stopping them before any damage can be caused.
With this simple measure, Coeval’s OVD System directly addresses the issue of drivers not knowing the height of their vehicle. As well as the clear benefits of their responsive nature, the signs are robust, vandal resistant and visible in all conditions – an especially crucial benefit in the Winter, where driver visibility can be a challenge. The sign technology is fully customised so the message is bespoke to its location, providing specific instructions to the driver. These signs have been shown to reduce bridge strikes wherever they have been implemented.
Wireless and GSM options reduce installation costs, and operators benefit from the remote user interface and text message alerts. Clear Hi-intensity display, perfectly visible in all conditions.
Suitable for all road speeds and locations, with vandal resistant face protected LEDs and performance assured.
More damage and disruption caused by ‘Bridge Strikes’
Preventing bridge strikes – City of Edinburgh
Enquire today about Overheight Vehicle Detection.
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