A system which alerts pedestrians to approaching trams is set to move to the next phase of development as further tests take place. The project sees track vibrations used to alert pedestrians and is backed by the Light Rail Safety and Standards Board (LRSSB).<\/p>\n
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The initiative is under the banner of \u201cSafer Tram Crossings\u201d and has seen the development of a new alert system by Efficiency Ups Ltd following initial proof of concept tests by the company in Sheffield last year.<\/p>\n
The next phase will now see the company work alongside Transport for London (TfL) and London Trams for more trials whilst the University of Birmingham will be accelerating the development of prototype equipment.<\/p>\n
Craig O\u2019Brien, Head of Engineering Safety and Innovation at the LRSSB, said: \u201cAlthough serious incidents are fortunately uncommon, reducing the risk of collisions between pedestrians and trams is one of our top priorities.\u00a0Early tests demonstrated the potential of the VibeSafe to do just that, and we\u2019re fully behind this latest phase of its development.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile the principle of using track vibrations as a trigger for warnings has been established, this next stage of the project will focus on determining the most effective way to implement the device and alert people of an approaching tram, be it through audio alarms, visual signals, or a combination of both.\u201d<\/p>\n
The system is capable of providing a 30 second warning of an approaching tram at crossings.<\/p>\n
Jason Molyneux, Managing Director at Efficiency Ups Ltd, said: \u201cIt is fantastic to see that the Light Rail Sector are investing in innovative technology that improves public safety – enabling people to make safe decisions about their use. We are absolutely thrilled to be part of this journey with LRSSB and are determined to develop the technology to meet the needs of the sector and the end user – the public.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A system which alerts pedestrians to approaching trams is set to move to the next phase of development as further tests take place. The project sees track vibrations used to alert pedestrians and is backed by the Light Rail Safety … Continue reading