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.

The NDOR highway traffic engineering team are piloting the install of an advanced warning VATCS on each of the I80 exit ramp lanes outside of Grand Island, NE. The signs are currently in covert mode and base line speed data is being collected which will be used in the speed analysis evaluation process.

Over 59% of road fatalities across North America are a combination of excessive speed at a hazard leading to road departure. Not only was it the long term speed reduction findings of the TRL548 independent report that attracted NDOR to the product but also the impressive 1/3rd reduction in accidents occurring at these hazard locations post sign installation.

This advance hazard VATCS install follows an earlier rural route installation in Eastern Ontario at Sharbot Lake where the Township of North Frontenac have installed advance hazard warning VATCS providing advance warning to drivers of a curve and narrow bridge ahead. Both projects are being monitored closely by the client and Dorman Varitext and it is expected that other agencies are sure to follow suit as awareness of the technology grows.