Bartco UK, together with its partner Mobile Visual Information Systems (MVIS), has announced that it will be launching at Traffex 2017 its first ever portable variable message sign (VMS) that can be integrated with temporary traffic lights.
During Europe’s largest international traffic management, road safety and highways maintenance exhibition, which takes place on April 4-7, at the NEC in Birmingham, Bartco will be displaying its portfolio of traffic management technologies. Developed with SRL Traffic Systems, a leading supplier of temporary traffic management systems, the new, innovative road safety system will be Bartco’s smallest VMS, and will allow the sign to link with temporary traffic lights, in order to provide useful information to drivers during temporary signal installations and road works. Measuring 25.5 x 29.5in (65 x 75cm), and weighing less than 22 lb (10kg), Bartco’s HD Quattro VMS is being integrated on the same boxes and posts that SRL used for its Radiolight temporary traffic lights.
Discussing the new sign system, Bartco and MVIS managing director Pat Musgrave said, “Our priority is not only the development of new ITS products, but the creation of innovative ITS solutions that effectively integrate these individual technologies to meet specific customer requirements; our work involving the HD Quattro multiple technological integrations demonstrates the application of this priority.”
Another co-developed Bartco ‘connected’ product, which is aimed at reducing vehicle emissions, will also be demonstrated at Traffex. Developed in partnership with Highways Resource Solutions Ltd (HRS), the innovative Auto Detect unit is the first system to combine variable messaging signs (VMS) and contactless sensor technology in order to lower emissions. This pairing means that at sites where there is a high volume of stop-start traffic, such as road works, busy city centers, or large sporting events, which have long queues, drivers can be instructed via a VMS in how to help lower their emissions.
A master Intellicone Traffic Management Unit is connected to traffic lights and when the lights turn red, one or a series of Bartco’s VMS is activated wirelessly, which displays a message instructing drivers to turn their engines off, rather than sit idly for a long period with the engine running. In light of the recent news that the UK has been issued with an official warning by the European Union (EU) regarding rising air pollution levels, the partners are pleased to release a solution that effectively communicates with drivers, and educates them to make more environmentally friendly motoring decisions.
Bartco’s technical manager Matt Felce commented, “We are delighted to have developed a solution with HRS that utilizes our solar powered VMS in order to help reduce vehicle emissions. Auto Detect is the latest temporary ITS solution to be launched by Bartco and HRS. We have also worked in partnership to combine VMS and contactless sensor technology in a pioneering Intelligent Safety work zone safety range, comprising incursion, overheight vehicle detection and works exit systems.”
