One year has passed since the Provincial Council placed on the CC-38, the road that connects the capital of Cáceres with Casar de Cáceres, a pilot system that detects the passage of cyclists and alerts drivers of this busy road of their presence. exit towards the A-66. The balance of its operation in this time has been positive in the behavior of the drivers, who have reduced their speed at the notice of the signals.
Technicians from the Diputación and the company that installed the sensors, Insegsa Preventive Engineering, have verified in the random checks that vehicle users slow down, as a direct repercussion with the activated system (panel on). They have also verified that the maneuvers of overtaking cyclists are being carried out correctly, taking into account the minimum separation of one and a half meters from the bicycles, as established by law.
The teams that, according to the Provincial Council, have demonstrated their efficiency this year, resisting the weather, will be complemented with a permanent capacity system for vehicles. This new functionality will discriminate by type and direction of travel, and it will be possible to access traffic information in real time.
In total, four ‘intelligent’ signal equipment with radar-sensors that feed on solar energy were placed on the road, each consisting of a vertical post with a visual panel, with text and pictogram, and LED warning light devices integrated into the hard shoulder
The installation comprises two sections. One from the exit of Casar de Cáceres until reaching the roundabout of the A-66 motorway, in the direction of the aforementioned population, 1.40 kilometers. And the other from the highway exit roundabout, towards Cáceres, 5.2 kilometers long.
These types of safety measures are established on roads and sections that are particularly dangerous, with elevation changes, curves and poor visibility, to protect cyclists.
The CC-38 has a single lane in each direction of traffic. It is a road with a lot of traffic, especially on a daily basis and during working hours. In addition to connecting the city with Casar, it is one of the exits to the A-66, so the traffic of cars, delivery vans and commercial vehicles is constant.
Cycling clubs try to avoid it because, as they have reported on occasions, cars travel at high speed on this road, which is limited to 90 kilometers per hour and has a narrow shoulder.
Bicycle overtaking is also being carried out respecting the separation of one and a half meters established by law
Now these protection devices are modifying the behavior of drivers who, faced with the flashing warning of the sensors when the bicycles pass, apply the brakes at the wheel and overtake cyclists in compliance with traffic regulations.
The bicycle users of the Webike association corroborate that the road has become safer. «People go slower because there are always bikes, especially on weekends, but in general the road is safer. In favor of the drivers I have to say that 80% move away completely, before they passed closer, “says Carlos Vivas, president of Webike.
The action was carried out with a charge to the investments in roads of the Diputación and cost 25,000 euros.
www.hoy.es
Eddie is an Australian news reporter with over 9 years in the industry and has published on Forbes and tech crunch.