Press Releases

3rd March 2007

Sefton Finds In Ground Detection Pads Reliable And Effective

A report by TRL (Transport Research Laboratory) in the early 90's established that the use of kerbside detection to cancel extraneous pedestrian calls at Puffin crossings has benefits for both pedestrians and motorists. In the intervening years, above ground detection has become the technology of choice but has not been without its problems.

Peter Jones, Principal Traffic Systems Engineer, Sefton MBC, says that some of these issues remain unresolved. "In the early days we trialled stand-on pads in the kerb surface but they proved unreliable, so like other authorities, we have used overhead detection at our Puffin crossings. Even today, we have a persistent stream of complaints from pedestrians that crossings have failed to operate and this costs us a great deal in maintenance".

This explains why Peter Jones was very interested when a new stand-on pad became available. This is the X-Flo Pedestrian Detection System, an in-ground pedestrian kerbside detection system, developed in New Zealand and in use all over the world. The X-Flo pad received type approval in the UK in 2004 and is now beginning to make an impact on the UK's streets.

Sefton now has installed X-Flo at four Puffin sites and one junction since summer 2006 and reports that they are all working very well. Correct installation is critical, says Peter. "You need to lay a level concrete base and route the cables correctly, but provided that is done properly the pads work very well. The technology is extremely simple - essentially the same loop technology that is being used on roads up and down the country - and we've found them very reliable in practice".

At one site, a busy junction in Southport, 16 pads have been deployed because of the need to minimise delays. "We were very keen to restrict all-red pedestrian stages to when they were really necessary and to ensure that demands were cancelled if pedestrians managed to cross earlier. They are working very well".

Educating the public to stand on the pads has not proved to be an issue. Peter says that they have put explanatory signs at the crossings but adds that in practice people seem to understand intuitively that they need to stand on the pad. "When we first put them in, we stood and watched how people reacted. The pads are a deeper pink than is normal and softer to stand on so it is obvious that they are part of the crossing infrastructure. And they are very sensitive. There was a lady with a buggy and only one of the front wheels was on the pad, and it still worked".

One thing they haven't quite sorted out in Sefton, says Peter, is the best configuration for the pads. Blind pedestrians are taught to position themselves at the edge of the kerb which means the cushion needs to be close to the road edge. However, with the increasing emphasis on having kerbs flush with the pavement, there is a tendency for puddles to form in wet weather and, understandably, pedestrians step back to avoid being splashed by passing traffic. And then they step off the mat. Having considered the matter Peter Jones says that the probable solution is to install an additional mat behind the first one increasing the detection area. He adds that the controller can be programmed to hold the demand if the pedestrian just steps off the pad for a second or two.

But doesn't that make the X-Flo pad an expensive solution? Peter Jones points to the savings in maintenance costs on his above ground detectors. "The reliability of the pads is so good, the maintenance costs are zero and we have had no vandalism - the cost of installation is quickly recovered. And there are other benefits too because there is improved service for pedestrians and - completely in line with the Traffic Management Act - reduced unnecessary delay to traffic flow. That is a real plus point".

About Motus Traffic Ltd.

Motus Traffic matches the latest traffic technology product with exact customer needs to meet the growing pressure on today's transport infrastructure. Combining a portfolio of innovative products, individual client attention and superior customer support, Motus Traffic delivers Integrated Traffic Solutions.

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Jim Booth
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jim.booth@motustraffic.com