Smart systems can prevent 80 percent of accidents

Most accidents occur near home, and local roads are also those where the most need to be done for traffic safety. Smart traffic signs, from speeds to traffic lights, which are punished by speeding drivers, is contributed to greater safety and flow, among other things. About intelligent traffic systems ran the word in Del’s podcast
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Technology in traffic significantly helps to correct human errors and contributes to safer and more flowing traffic, said traffic safety expert Robert Fear, who runs the Traffic Technical Technical Sector on the DRI. He also says that these systems will also be important for communication between vehicles and infrastructure.

What are intelligent traffic systems? Speed ​​displays are great for calming traffic and are fairly easy to maintain. Safety distance displays, which are usually placed in settlements, are increasing. Noise gauges are mainly on national roads in environmentally more sensitive areas. There are frequent flashing lights on classic signaling, which can be associated with a detective camera, said the interlocutor, adding: “There are also numerous devices for resolving dangerous situations or poor transparency at intersections and railway crossings, where the road operator has not yet provided adequate transparency and these devices are an intermediate step to improve the situation. Let’s not forget about smart traffic lights that manage traffic flow and take better safety. I would especially mention traffic lights rewarding or punishing drivers. If they exceed the speed, they are punished with a red light. « 

We have technology in our pocket

Last year, 68 people died in road accidents in Slovenia, the least so far. But at the same time, several traffic accidents happened than the year before, and more were seriously injured. According to the number of deaths per capita, Slovenia became comparable to the Netherlands and Germany. « We should not sleep on the laurels, but we have to improve the system, » said fear, pointing primarily to municipal roads, since municipalities often do not have enough resources to place adequate signaling or install it without professional judgment. Last but not least, municipalities are often staffed, without traffic and construction engineers.

Andrej Brglez, a sustainable mobility developer and researcher, also emphasizes the importance of using such systems as well as the possibilities of new technologies. “Regardless of the development of autonomous cars, if we look better, we all have the most technology in our pocket. If we were able to edit data from our phones, we would not only manage traffic flows, but for example, we could avoid building new lanes, we could shorten travel time, and would contribute a lot to safety. Often, cars with too fast motorists collide in intersections. Technically speaking, we have a system that can warn whether a driver of a car that someone is coming too soon to the intersection, or a motorcycle, that there is a car at the intersection and that it has to reduce speed, « Brglez emphasized the potential of sharing data.

Intelligent traffic systems were discussed (from right) Ana Cergolj Kebler, Andrej Brglez, Robert Fear and leader Nejc Gole. Photo: Marko Feist/Work

The possibility of financing for municipalities

In Zavarovalnica Triglav, the municipalities by co -financing helps to set up intelligent systems: “We have a scattered network of 200 systems across Slovenia, from which we constantly collect data. The number of too fast drivers decreased by 5.3 to 7 percent on the sections where we set up speed displays. This is not much, but the impact on the consequences of road accidents is huge, especially if we have in mind all who, when looking at the display, have at least adjusted the speed. On the other hand, systems that warn the driver in real time that someone is approaching him or her to prevent about 80 percent of accidents at the most critical points. This is a very high proportion, « said Safe Mobility Head of Zavarovalnica Triglav Ana Cergolj Kebler.

Today, Zavarovalnica Triglav will publish a new call for co -financing of intelligent systems of 60 to 80 percent of the value of the project: « This year, we will traditionally calm traffic in the vicinity of schools and kindergartens, and we will also devote ourselves to pedestrian crossings and cycling crossings across the roadway, which will be illuminated by COPS systems. »

How important is the use of advanced and new traffic technologies, is also warned by the researcher of sustainable mobility, Andrej Brglez. Photo: Zavarovalnica Triglav

The meaning of data is crucial

Ana Cergolj Kebler also emphasized the possibility of using data from the Drajv application, in which « we have a lot of data for each section of Slovenian roads, which can be analyzed anonymally and see what happens on these sections not only about speeding but also using the phone, rapid acceleration and rapid braking. » Data is a publicly accessible and extremely useful tool in the hands of young people who understand new technologies better, she added.

Andrej Brglez also emphasized the importance of data in deciding on traffic measures: “Speed ​​obstacles are one of the measures that can distribute locals regarding support and opposition. But now we have information that needs to be properly translated, explained and communicated. We need to take advantage of them to explain to people a particular measure. Because they will understand it, they will start participating. « 

This could avoid repeated bad will in Slovenian settlements, when locals have different initiatives regarding traffic regulation. What should residents do if they think that the section of the road across their settlement should be arranged differently, such as by erecting the speeds of obstacles, conditioned by « recumbent cops »?

They should contact municipal services engaged in traffic safety, ie either the competent department in the municipality or the technical commission of the Council for Prevention, advises Robert Fear: “The vast majority of local population, which is very sensitive to traffic safety, addresses this problem with the initiative of speed barriers. But they also have a negative side such as noise and emissions. We also have alternatives for speed barriers and perform well in many environments. ”However, he adds, the only placement of the traffic sign, even if it is modern technologies, is not enough if we do not join the area holistically.

In addition to ensuring that people participate in the use of intelligent systems, the state must follow the technology with regulation, Brglez said: “We have very big problems. We have so many laws in traffic law that the system is impenetrable. Just as roads need to be adapted to new conditions, laws should be required. But no one goes this complex challenge. «