Carina receives Doboy’s first LED Warning Signs

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

In mid-2016, Council announced a commitment of $3.24 million to fund a four-year Light Emitting Diode (LED) Road Signs program. This new road safety program involves the installation of LED road signs at known accident hotspots throughout Brisbane.

The aim of the program is to reduce the number of accidents and near-misses at these known hotspots. The high visibility LED road signs are designed to alert drivers of an upcoming intersection or traffic hazard, and to reduce their speed if they are travelling above the speed threshold that is pre-determined for that location.

Rollovers and collisions are an issue along Creek Road particularly near D'Arcy Road. As such, I have arranged to have a slowdown LED road sign installed to address this.

Council is proposing to install the permanent LED road sign northbound on Creek Road, just past the D’Arcy Road intersection, during March 2017.

ABOUT THE LED ROAD SIGNS

The signs are designed with two main components. A rectangular sign with “SLOW DOWN” spelt out in highly visible LEDs is at the bottom and a separate diamond warning sign appears above. These diamond warning signs may also feature LEDs or could be static yellow. The type of warning sign will depend on the upcoming intersection or hazard however common signs include pedestrian crossing, roundabout and stop sign ahead.

HOW THE LED ROAD SIGNS WORK

The signs are vehicle activated signs meaning they are triggered by an approaching vehicle. The LEDs on the signs are inactive (unlit) by default and as a vehicle approaches, the speed is detected by the sign’s radar. The sign is only activated (lit) if the vehicle is travelling above the pre-determined speed threshold for that location. If the vehicle is travelling under the pre-determined speed threshold, the sign remains inactive.

The speed threshold at which the sign is activated is not the speed limit for that location, rather, one that is pre-determined as a safe speed to approach the upcoming intersection or traffic hazard.

As the LED road signs are solar powered, they are generally located in a position that is clear of trees and other obstructions, and has access to sunlight for a high proportion of the day.

SELECTING SUITABLE SITES

Myself and Council officers will develop a shortlist of possible locations for the LED road signs based on data available from:

• the Queensland Government’s Webcrash database

• the Brisbane Metropolitan Transport Management Centre incident and accident response reports

• Council’s Transport Network Operations’ investigation history including known traffic hotspots and accident data.

A site assessment is then conducted to determine suitability for sign installation. Factors considered in this site assessment process include but are not limited to:

• visual obstruction to adjacent residents

• sufficient vehicle visibility, including potential obstructing objects such as trees and other road signs

• clearance from conflicts such as driveways and power poles

• clearance from low-hanging power lines and television cables

• clearance from shade to ensure solar panels receive adequate sunlight

• separation between other road signs to ensure drivers have sufficient time to read all road sign messages.

For installation purposes, the LED road signs require a post and small concrete foundation below the ground on Council-owned road verge. The signs are solar powered and have a small solar panel to keep batteries charged.

SUGGEST A NEW LOCATION

If you are concerned about traffic incidents or near-misses in your area, please contact your local ward office to suggest a location for a LED road sign. For ward office location and contact details, visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au and search ‘ward offices’.

If you have any questions or would like more information on the program, you can:

• email Council’s Transport Planning and Strategy branch at tps_contact@brisbane.qld.gov.au

• call Council on (07) 3403 8888