The City of Mississauga, commences their 2008 trial of the dual posted speed limit VATCS technology. The City is planning to monitor and evaluate speed management performance at each of the VATCS locations during the trial utilising the on board bluetooth ™ datalogger speed analysis feature. More details on the results of the trial will be published later this summer.

The first VATCS School Zone case study data has been published by the City of Brantford, ON. The full report can be read in the research section of this site but in summary the two dual diagram Vehicle Activated Traffic Calming Signs pictured and installed on Shellard Avenue in August 2007 have demonstrated a significant speed management impact.

The City of Brampton have awarded Dorman Varitext a supply and install contract for twenty solar powered posted speed limit VATCS which will be arriving on the streets later this summer. The contract is the largest to date in the province since the technology was first launched in 2006 and is testament to the independently proven traffic safety benefits of the VATCS.

The city awarded the contract further to the successful pilot trial of the VATCS during 2007 and see the introduction of the VATCS as an important addition to their province leading pro-active traffic calming program. The City is intending to utilise the on board traffic speed analysis feature that comes as standard with the VATCS to monitor the performance of the signs over both the short and long term and look forward to introducing this unique approach.

Congratulations are in order for the SynchroGUIDE sequential work zone taper delineator warning lamp. The product has been recognized by the editors from Better Roads magazine in their 2007 “Top Rollout” award category for innovation.

Each year the award is presented to new products that enrich the highway and bridge industry with innovation , productivity and greater supplier competition.

Dorman Varitext will be showcasing the technology at the ATSSA expo in February in New Orleans along with the award winning trophy. For more information please call in at booth 345 at the show or simply drop us a line through our contacts page.

Police forces in Ontario and Quebec are trialling the Pro-B-LITE synchronised emergency services re-chargeable 5 lamp car kit.

The synchronised lamp kit comes complete with its own charger combined carrier base and fits neatly into the rear of any cruiser , charging from the 12 V vehicle outlet for rapid deployment by the operator. The synchronised lamps are being seen as the ideal advancement and replacement for dated high intensity flares. .

Further to the first introduction of the VATCS technology on the west coast in the City of Tacoma W , word of the technology is spreading fast not only through the state with Clark County and the City of Redmond investing in the innovative traffic calming product to replace the dated speed feedback technology.

In addition to this good news Dorman Varitext are happy to be able to announce a breakthrough into California where the City of Redwood will be trialling the dual warning/posted speed limit model in an attempt to tackle excessive approach speeds in advance of a pedestrian crosswalk.

In addition to introducing the unique VATCS technology approach to traffic calming , Dorman Varitext have also incorporated the philosophy of the VATCS approach into their range of SFD Speed feedback display products. The SFD market is all ready established in North America and DV expect in time that the VATCS will supersede the SFD as it has in Europe as traffic engineers come to realise the long term benefits of this approach.

The City of Ottawa have deployed the first dual diagram school zone VATCS traffic calming solution in Canada as a pilot trial with Dorman Varitext. The City is looking to evaluate this unique approach with a view to potentially rolling out the VATCS across the City to help address the challenge of providing the safest possible routes to school for students living and studying in the capital.

The Cities of Brampton to the west, Pickering to the East and Brantford to the South are all trialing the latest traffic calming technology VATCS solution in an effort to being seen as technology province leaders in this sector. The install means that the GTA will be surrounded on three sides and can only spell good news for further expansion of the technology.

In support of this Unipart North America Logistics, Dorman Varitext’s parent group will be providing space and resources at their newly opened offices in Brampton Ontario. The offices will be officially opened in October this year and all clients will be invited to tour the site.

The City of Woodstock Ontario, was the first to identify the advantages of the VATCS technology approach to traffic calming as an alternative to other long term measures. The first installation of VATCS in North America were installed in August 2006 in the City and the chief Traffic Engineer David Creery was keen to ensure that the only world recognized large scale study into Vehicle Activated Traffic Sign Technology TRL548 out of the United Kingdom would translate just as well with Canadian Drivers...

NDOR have an issue with vehicle departures and turnovers at certain highway exit ramps. The department had identified that in over 90% of incident cases the major contributing factor was driver error in relation to unsafe exit speed. After reviewing the TRL548 independent large scale study component on Advanced Hazard Warning VATCS that recorded an average 7mph reduction in approach speeds in advance of hazards.