When businesses set up a large campus, facility or parking lot, they need to consider traffic safety to ensure people do not encounter accidents.
They should ensure that there is proper traffic control, from circulation to signage.
It can also happen that vehicles can accidentally hit people as they share the same road within the business premise. And people can be on the road surface in a parking lot, susceptible to being accidentally hit by moving vehicles.
Therefore, businesses need to install proper traffic control devices to keep people safe. There are many types of traffic control devices businesses can use.
Such regulatory devices can differ in type and purpose. And there are many different options available to keep properties protected from vehicle damage apart from saving people.
What are Traffic Control Devices?
You can regard traffic control devices as tools that direct, guide, and inform drivers by offering visual or tactile indicators.
Types of Traffic Control Devices
There are many types of traffic control devices. Their primary purpose is to redirect traffic away from property and pedestrians.
Businesses can use different types of traffic control devices to keep people and facilities safe from vehicle accidents.
Such devices are of the following categories:
Road Signs
Road Signs divert vehicles and thus help regulate traffic either by informing them when they need to stop or displaying the relevant speed limits.
The type of precautionary signs you need to use depends on the extent of the roads on the property.
According to the requirements, you can use signs that may be appropriate, like signs that indicate a merging point, roundabout, or turn options.
Typically, there are three main types of signs you can use for traffic control, and they are:
Regulatory Signs
These signs display speed limits and messages such as "slow," "stop," or "do not enter."
Warning or Caution Signs
These signs provide vehicle drivers specific warning or cautionary messages regarding slippery roads, y-intersection signs, roundabout signs, narrow roads, pedestrian crossings, etc.
Informatory Signs
These signs indicate where certain services or attractions are located ahead of and their distance, such as gas pumps, rest areas, restaurants, and parking.
If you use a combination of these signs, you can make drivers and pedestrians aware of their surroundings. As a result, you can help prevent accidents from occurring.
Traffic Signals
You can use traffic signals in the form of traffic lights and other signs to direct traffic. You should ensure that the traffic signals you use should meet your needs. The signals should be able to draw attention and provide inherent meaning. Besides, they should also allow drivers sufficient time to respond to minimize time wastage.
Usually, traffic control signals include green, yellow, and red lights to manage traffic flow. And, pedestrian signals indicate to people when it is safe for them to cross a particular crosswalk.
You will typically see these types of traffic control devices on main roads.
Road Markings
You can regard road markings as another type of traffic safety device, which you can apply to the road.
Typically, the safety device comprises lines, patterns, words, reflectors, or symbols that appear on the pavement, curb, sides of islands, or on fixed objects nearby.
Usually, road markings include:
Pavement Markings
These are markings on the road. Pavement markings are usually of white and yellow colours, and indicate parking restrictions or lanes.
Curb Markings
Curb Markings are usually of alternating black and white lines, visible from a long distance. They indicate parking regulations.
Object Markings
They are physical obstructions that include specific labels to warn drivers and pedestrians.
Reflectors
These reflective markings on the road can guide drivers safely during the night.
Traffic Bollards
Traffic Bollards are another essential type of traffic control device that you can typically see within business premises. They are also called High-Security Road Bollards, which protect people and property from damages due to accidents or accidental vehicle crashes.
With such bollards, people can feel safe because they can understand that the bollards can protect them from accidental injuries.
Moreover, bollards also protect properties from accidental vehicle crashes and criminals. However, incidents like ram-raiding are increasing that call for protection.
There are three main types of traffic posts to deter drivers, providing both physical and visual protection:
Removable posts
You can remove these posts and set them up when you require them to offer protection.
They provide temporary protection at locations with heavy vehicle or pedestrian traffic. Removable Posts can function as either a visual or physical deterrent, depending on the size and strength of the removable traffic bollard.
Collapsible Posts
These posts are suitable for temporary protection. You can also see Collapsible Bollard posts permanently installed in certain locations. But users lower or raise them depending on the necessary clearance. They are helpful for sites that restrict vehicles, such as parks but need to allow a temporary entry for utility or emergency vehicles.
Fixed Posts
As the name suggests, they are permanent fixtures. They can protect from vehicle impacts. Fixed Posts come with embedded or surface-mounted installations. It also depends on the type of surface.
Typically, Fixed Posts are suitable for locations that need consistent protection, such as storefronts and building perimeters.
However, your business premise may need a combination of different types of traffic bollards to protect against vehicle damage.
Otherwise, vehicle access points and pedestrian entrances can become vulnerable to accidents.
Conclusion
It would be best if you considered the safety element for the people who visit your business premises. So, use one or a combination of the different traffic control devices for your premise.
