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Cape Town intros 3D laser detector to prevent vehicles crashing into bridge

The City of Cape Town has introduced a new 3D laser detector to prevent trucks and other tall vehicles crashing into the low railway bridge at Atlantic Road.

The bridge, with a height restriction of 2.5 metres and located in the coastal town of Muizenberg, has seen many crashes as drivers often underestimate the height of their vehicles or load when driving it.

The city said incidents of vehicles getting stuck happen on at least once a week, despite the fact that there are a number of sign boards warning about the height restrictions.

“Earlier warning systems were also affected by the extremely corrosive environment and required constant maintenance,” the city said, which prompted it to come up with an improved system could be installed as part of the roadworks.

“TCT [Transport for Cape Town] officials proposed a 3D laser detection system following international research,”explained TCT Mayoral Committee Member, Brett Herron. ”

A system developed by a local company was installed above the northbound carriageway of Main Road, about 150 m from the intersection with Atlantic Road. It uses an infrared laser beam to read the height of the vehicles and their load.”

3D_laser_detection_300
City of Cape Town’s 3D laser detector

“Should it detect that a vehicle in the turning lane is higher than 2.5 m from the road surface, a warning system is triggered at the intersection with Atlantic Road. A signboard with high-power LED lights will flash for about 30 seconds, indicating to the driver that their vehicle is too high to cross underneath the railway bridge,” he said.

According to the city, it has noted that no crashes have been recorded since 1st June when the system was installed.

The 3D laser detector cost the City of Cape Town R300 000 to install.

“This is a small price to pay if it can prevent at least half of the crashes that we have witnessed at this bridge over the years and if it can assist in improving the general road safety in this area,” Herron said.

The city said it will determine the success of the system and then roll out two more – one above the southbound carriageway of Main Road for traffic approaching Atlantic Road from Steenberg, and another above Atlantic Road for traffic approaching the railway bridge from the eastern side along the R310.

[Source – City of Cape Town, image – Wikimedia Commons]

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