they are like two rubber strips down the middle of the road joines to a metal box, someone told me they are for counting the traffic? but to what purpose???
2006-09-19 00:56:35 · 19 answers · asked by andylefty 3 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Other - Cars & Transportation
Actually, Chambers of Commerce use the traffic counters, as well as the city architect, the DOT. Larger companies such as McDonalds, Wal*Mart, etc, also use these counters. They are mainly used for marketing purposes - companies want to put their businesses in high traffic areas, and patterened traffic areas.
2006-09-19 03:17:14 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The traffic counters are used by road planners to measure the traffic usage on a number of roads.
Locally to us they put a box on each of the three roads running approximately east / west through our part of town prior to installing traffic calming measures on one of the roads. The boxes were then installed again in the same places after the work had been done so as to gain some measure of how the work had affected the traffic flows.
The fact that there are two strips has nothing to do with speed, the rubber strips are relatively fragile and are likely to get broken. By having two counters they can verify them against each other.
2006-09-19 08:25:53 · answer #2 · answered by Martin G 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Main use is to monitor the speed of traffic, ie the time difference between the front wheels and rear wheels. It is only approximate due to varying wheel bases and two vehicles passing in opposite directions at the same time can give spurious results but the statistical software eliminates such anomalies. No doubt a few weeks later a GATSO will be installed in the vicinity
2006-09-19 08:13:08 · answer #3 · answered by ArskElvis 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it is. It is used to determine the amount of traffic the road has and when to schedule maintenance. City Engineers use the information to determine if the road is due for repair or widening or if a light needs to be put up. Generally the activity the road receives.
2006-09-19 07:59:25 · answer #4 · answered by sewshawn 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Highway surveys... so the Gov' knows which roads are being used the most and by which vehicles.. supposed to help in repair planning.. or in the UK so they can do nothing but charge more taxes.
Sometimes you might see the old Biddies in the yellow boxes on the side of the road... they are doing the same
2006-09-19 09:31:23 · answer #5 · answered by edders11 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well they monitor the traffic count for various reasons...these could include :
The number of cars per hour/day (for statistical reasons)
To check what time is the Least/Most traffic so they can plan road works for more convienient times...
The amount of cars the road has to carry (an indicator of when the road needs ungrading/repairs..)
These are just mainly for roadwork reasons, so i wouldnt get too worried about them if i were you (but i still find it funny to see all the cars slam on breaks when they approach one, as they think its some sort of speed detection devise)
2006-09-19 08:07:35 · answer #6 · answered by Jazz 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
To monitor traffic flow on certain roads, probably checks speed as well if there are two strips.
2006-09-19 07:58:50 · answer #7 · answered by jayktee96 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
So that the DOT can decide what intersections get the most traffic and decide if lights or signs need to be put up.
2006-09-19 07:58:38 · answer #8 · answered by i have no idea 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To enable City planners to assess traffic flow and if necessay make changes to lights, Stop signs etc.
2006-09-19 08:08:55 · answer #9 · answered by mjdp 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
to check the speed of the traffic passing over them perhaps
2006-09-19 07:58:25 · answer #10 · answered by Jane S 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋