This Australian state is about to revolutionise road safety with groundbreaking technology—here’s how it’ll affect you
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A new initiative aimed at transforming the way we experience road safety has been announced in an Australian state, sparking both excitement and intrigue.
What started as a pilot project quickly turned into a bold step towards improving the safety and efficiency of our highways.
This groundbreaking trial promises to reshape how we interact with the roads—offering unexpected twists that could impact every driver.
The NSW Government rolled out a $5 million initiative aimed at enhancing road safety in regional areas with a series of technology trials.
As part of the 'Smarter Highways' program, new and existing technologies were introduced, focusing on wireless, solar-powered systems that could also be applied to local roads.
The primary feature of this program was the Smarter Highway Activated Vehicle and Environmental Systems (SHAVES), which incorporated self-adaptive signage to alert drivers to environmental hazards, replacing traditional portable signs in high-risk zones.
These advanced signs could display three different warning types and boast full internet connectivity for real-time remote access.
Trial locations for SHAVES were yet to be confirmed at the time.
In addition to SHAVES, the program included the Road Pod Vehicle Magnetometer (VM), a permanent traffic counter designed to provide real-time data on vehicle volumes, classifications, speeds, and road conditions.
The VMs were easily installed in under an hour and were mainly used to track the effects of roadworks on traffic.
Key trial locations for the VMs included the Great Western Highway, Kelso and Newell Highway, and Dubbo.
One of the highlights of the trial was the introduction of the Rural Intersection Activated Warning System (RIAWS), which automatically urged drivers to slow down when a vehicle was approaching from a side road.
RIAWS had already been in use in Victoria since 2019, first deployed on the Glenelg Highway near Dunkeld.
The program also focused on improving traffic management during both planned and unplanned roadworks.
New traffic signals were set to be installed at Victoria Pass in the Blue Mountains, an area prone to vehicle breakdowns, especially during peak holiday periods.
These lights would help manage traffic flow when queues formed, ensuring safe access for stranded vehicles.
In 2019, the national road toll tragically claimed 1302 lives, with NSW recording the highest number of fatalities at 340.
The Christmas and New Year period saw the road toll rise by two-thirds compared to the previous year.
What do you think about the rise of smart highways and their impact on your daily commute? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
What started as a pilot project quickly turned into a bold step towards improving the safety and efficiency of our highways.
This groundbreaking trial promises to reshape how we interact with the roads—offering unexpected twists that could impact every driver.
The NSW Government rolled out a $5 million initiative aimed at enhancing road safety in regional areas with a series of technology trials.
As part of the 'Smarter Highways' program, new and existing technologies were introduced, focusing on wireless, solar-powered systems that could also be applied to local roads.
The primary feature of this program was the Smarter Highway Activated Vehicle and Environmental Systems (SHAVES), which incorporated self-adaptive signage to alert drivers to environmental hazards, replacing traditional portable signs in high-risk zones.
These advanced signs could display three different warning types and boast full internet connectivity for real-time remote access.
Trial locations for SHAVES were yet to be confirmed at the time.
In addition to SHAVES, the program included the Road Pod Vehicle Magnetometer (VM), a permanent traffic counter designed to provide real-time data on vehicle volumes, classifications, speeds, and road conditions.
The VMs were easily installed in under an hour and were mainly used to track the effects of roadworks on traffic.
Key trial locations for the VMs included the Great Western Highway, Kelso and Newell Highway, and Dubbo.
One of the highlights of the trial was the introduction of the Rural Intersection Activated Warning System (RIAWS), which automatically urged drivers to slow down when a vehicle was approaching from a side road.
RIAWS had already been in use in Victoria since 2019, first deployed on the Glenelg Highway near Dunkeld.
The program also focused on improving traffic management during both planned and unplanned roadworks.
New traffic signals were set to be installed at Victoria Pass in the Blue Mountains, an area prone to vehicle breakdowns, especially during peak holiday periods.
These lights would help manage traffic flow when queues formed, ensuring safe access for stranded vehicles.
In 2019, the national road toll tragically claimed 1302 lives, with NSW recording the highest number of fatalities at 340.
The Christmas and New Year period saw the road toll rise by two-thirds compared to the previous year.
What do you think about the rise of smart highways and their impact on your daily commute? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
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