GB2384605A - Road traffic warning signal - Google Patents

Abstract

A road traffic warning system, for use in reduced visibility areas, comprises a roadside sensor 1 and a sign 2 housing a flashing light with a directional indicator. The sensor may be positioned to detect vehicle B in an area 5 obscured from an approaching road 4 and relay an activating signal to the illuminating warning sign located on that road. The sensor may be a pressure sensor fitted to the road or a kerb sensor with a reflective badge.

Description

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A road safety device used as a visual aid This invention relates to a road safety device used as a visual aid to warn drivers of an on-coming vehicle in a blind spot or reduced vision road area for seconds or minutes before visual sight.

The usual system used for this application is road mirrors, which are of limited effect. They can be affected by day-to-day variation for example, rain, mist, fog, bright sunshine or dust, causing reduced visibility & effectiveness.

Mirrors will only be effective at a short distant due to visibility, they also need to be positioned precisely for angled deflection, and are ineffective at certain blind spot areas, for example humpback bridges and tight comers.

By locating a sensor into a metal or plastic, water proof casing and fixing it to the road, near the kerb, a pre-determined distance away from a reduced vision road area or blind spot, it will detect the following methods of transport ; motor car, lorry, motor bike, bicycle, or even a horse, seconds or minutes before visual sight.

By sending this signal to a flashing light and directional arrow a pre-determined distance away, a driver can receive primitive information that a vehicle is approaching and from which direction it is coming before visual sight.

The light and directional arrow will only stop flashing, informing the driver that it is safe to manoeuvre, when the vehicle has safely passed the danger area and the off sensor.

The above invention can also be used to warn the general public or pedestrians of oncoming traffic.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which :- Sheet 1 Figure 1.

Shows in perspective a sensor sending a signal to warn car (A) of oncoming traffic at a humpback bridge ie, a reduced vision road area.

1 Humpback Bridge, 2 Road signal, 3 Sensor on, 4 Sensor off, 5 Road.

Sheet 5/2 Figure 2.

Shows a sensor sending a signal to warn car (A) of oncoming traffic, when trying to manoeuvre out of a drive with high walls or a high fence.

1 Sensor on, 2 Road signal, 3 High wall or fence or shrubbery, 4 Private drive, 5 Road, 6 Sensor off.

Sheet 5/3 Figure 3.

Shows a sensor sending a signal to warn car (A) of oncoming traffic, when turning right or left at a dangerous bend.

1 Sensor off 2 Sensor on, 3 Road eye signal, 4 Road, 5 Blind spot.

Sheet 5/4 Figure 4.

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Shows two sensor sending a directional signal to warn car (A) of oncoming traffic from both direction at a T-junction with high wall or high fences.

1 Sensor on, 2 Directional signal, 3 Sensor off 4 Directional signal, 5 Sensor on, 6 Sensor off 7 Road, 8 High wall or fence or shrubbery.

Sheet 5/5 Figure 1. Road signal box Flashing signal box used as a visual aid to warn drivers of oncoming traffic.

1 Flashing lights, 2 Metal box with water proof seal to protect electronics, 3 Fixing poles, 4 Sun screen, 5 Small box for general public.

Sheet 5/5 Figure 2, Rubber pressure sensor Rubber pressure sensor used to send signal to signal box to warn of oncoming traffic.

1 Power lead, 2 Road tacks, 3-rubber pressure mat, 4-pressure sensor, and 5 Side view of mat.

Sheet 5/5 Figure 3, small curb sensor used to send signal to signal box to warn of oncoming traffic.

1 Metal housing with concealed sensor, 2 Road kerb, 3 reflective badge.

Claims (3)

1. A road safety device used as a visual aid Claims 1 A method of improving road awareness and road safety with a visual aid system. This system will warn drivers of on-coming vehicle in blind spots, or reduced vision road areas, seconds or minutes before visual sight.
2. 2 This system will reduce the risk of road accident at blind spots or reduced vision road areas, by eliminate driver uncertainty. The driver will receive primitive information that traffic is approaching, seconds or minutes before visual sight.
3. 3 It gives the driver information to aid his decision when exiting or manoeuvring at dangerous road areas, thus providing confidence whilst negotiating busy road junctions and accident prone areas.