Where is SafeZone installed?
In June 2006, the NSW Roads & Traffic Authority (RTA) issued an Expression of Interest (EOI) as part of a program to identify warning systems that might better inform drivers that a School Zone was active; and advise them of the 40 km/hr mandatory speed limit in effect. Several dozen companies responded. Only five were selected for field trials.
PNE Electronics' SafeZone system was one of those five systems selected for road trials. Included were zones subject to very high heavy truck traffic, that received little direct sunlight and that were on bendy streches of road with little advance warning of the zone.
In March 2007, SafeZone began trials that extended over several months. The result was feedback on the performance of the design seen here (Mark 2) that resulted in new design innovations being introduced (in the Mark 3 design) that significantly extend the physical durability of the in-road lights as well as greatly improve the visbility of the lights in very high ambient light conditions.
The new Mark 3 design will be available Q3 2008. It will be smaller, stronger, brighter and operate for longer than the Mark 3 lights; while retaining all the features of the original system that resulted in it being selected for RTA road trials.
Meantime, we welcome any feedback or comments about our system.
