13
June 2002
NEW HAZARD FACES BIKERS
The BMF is concerned that a new design of traffic counter
being used in Derbyshire could prove hazardous to motorcyclists.
The electronic traffic counter (replacing the familiar
rubber tubes placed across the road) is encapsulated
in a flat, hard-rubber block bolted to the roads
surface. The size of a small inverted tea tray, the
device is 400mm square and 25mm high with chamfered
sides designed to blend into the roads surface,
in effect, a man-made road bump potentially hazardous
to the motorcyclist.
Already reports have indicated the risk of accidents,
one incident happening when the rider, riding in bad
weather, suddenly noticed one on a bend and swerved
to avoid it, narrowly missing the curb in the process.
The BMF has taken the issue up with Derbyshire Constabulary
and the UK importer and are pleased to report that the
importer, Highway Care, has now instigated independent
safety tests. However, the BMF wants all riders to be
aware of these devices and report their location to
the BMF. Said BMF Spokesman Jeff Stone: We understand
the need for traffic monitoring and appreciate that
technology moves on, but bolting blocks the size of
an inverted tea tray in middle of the road is an accident
waiting to happen.
Note: The traffic counters, made by the American company
Nu-Metrics, also measure vehicle length and speed. See
http://www.bmf.co.uk
for photographs.
|