Top 3 Ideas
Archive for March, 2010
Type III traffic barricades are, from what I know, the most popular type of traffic barricades. They have a variety of options, from how wide they can be to the reflective tape. Reflective tape can be EG (Engineer Grade), HI (Hi Intensity Grade), and DG (Diamond Grade).
Prices for type III barricades go up significantly when you decide to have reflective sheeting on both sides, so be sure to only choose that option if you really need it. Another option for these barricade is what it is made out of: would you prefer plywood or plastic (plastic seems to be most popular). Also, get them with the feet so that they can be stood up “out of the box”.
Stealing Traffic Cones
It seems like the thing to do when you are drunk. It’s funny, and harmless right? Think again, stealing traffic cones can get you in big trouble, especially because they are usually owned by the city. It’s easy to find many stories on the internet about kids who got drunk, stole a traffic cone, and got in a lot of trouble.
One story I stumbled upon was where a couple of drunk people jumped out of the car (the driver wasn’t drinking, lucky for him) and stole some traffic cones and brought them back into the car. The sober driver tried to tell them to put the cones down before they got in, but they wouldn’t budge. Long story short, a cop saw them and charged two of them with a Class “C” misdemeanor. Next time you reach for that traffic cone think again!
Delineator Posts
Delineator posts are good for channelizing traffic, or directing traffic in a way so that it knows where to go and doesn’t end up somewhere it shouldn’t. You see these mainly on the highway during a construction project. They come in many different colors, white orange and yellow are the most common.
Reflective bands for the delineator posts can come in 3 or 4 inches. These are good for alerting oncoming traffic because the light of the car reflects off the post. Posts can be either flat top or t-top, which is handle that makes it easier to grab and move around.
Reflective Safety Vest
These come in a variety of colors usually, and can be non reflective or reflective. You can also get a supervisor vest to stand out from the other workers. Pockets are also another option in case there are things you need a place to store papers, etc.
For colder environments, try the reflective safety jacket, it provides more warmth than the reflective safety vest. These reflective safety jackets are reflective at night, and fluorescent during the day, so that you are always seen. Most reflective safety vests are very durable, so you don’t have to worry about them tearing during the job.
Traffic Channelizers
‘chan-nel-ize’ to direct through a channel. Many types of traffic safety products fit this description. Here are some examples of traffic channelizers; ultra panels, channelizer posts, superdome drums, traffic barrels (both the orange and the yellow), delineator posts, and looper tubes.
Traffic channelizers are a great way to, well, channelize traffic. We have all driven through those lanes that are lined with traffic channelizers or cement barriers and feel way too squeezed. They are good for letting traffic know where it is supposed to be going, so that someone doesn’t end up on newly laid down asphalt or in a ditch.
Features of Arrow Boards
This blog talks about the different features an arrow board has. Of course the features are going to depend on the brand, but I’ll try and stick with industry-wide features. Most arrow boards are made so that they can be towed by a truck. The newest trend seems to be solar, there are a lot of solar arrow boards out there now.
“trailer mounted arrow board” is the term for an arrow board that is pulled by a car/truck for use while the truck is moving. A lot of them have storage for other safety items, like roll up signs and holders for traffic cones. Most arrow boards can be offered with 15 or 25 LEDs.
Traveling Between Home and the Office
Let’s face it, some people have a terrible commute that can last for several hours, and since these people often have this commute 4-5 times per week, it can often interfere with spending time with family and friends. This patience-testing endeavor can be made even worse when there is construction and traffic barricades impeding your route. But there’s nothing to suggest a commute to and from home can’t be productive or even a little fun. For people who have committed to commuting and living at a significant distance from the office, it’s important to remember that there’s little point to be upset about sitting in traffic.
When slow traffic and long commutes become daily trends, it’s important to relieve stress with enjoyable car activities including listening to music, talking with family and friends on the phone, or even viewing fun pictures. Purchase a new car sound system to increase the enjoyment of listening to music; it’s a great investment that can drown out the sounds and stress of a long commute.
Traffic Barrels or Sand Barrels
There can be confusion over what these are called, but the proper term is sand barrels, more generally they can be called traffic barrels. Those yellow barrels you to ensure that if your car goes off course it doesn’t end up in what the barrels are in front of. A lot of times they are in front of the concrete barrier that forms an exit off ramp.
These are not necessarily re directive, but they are still useful for protecting cars and trucks during a crash. Chances are if they are hit hard you are going to have to buy a new one, but most are designed so that a minor hit won’t damage them. Most barrels are able to be filled with sand, and can add up to around 1,000 pounds once filled.
Safety Cones Brands
There are different brands of safety cones? Yes, more than one manufacturer of safety cones exist. In fact, there are many. Most companies that make traffic cones make other products as well (traffic barricades, delineator posts, etc). So what’s the difference between one brand and the next?
Well, the answer is there isn’t too much of a difference. Of course some are going to have more plastic, be more reflective or just stand up to the weather better. Aesthetically, there are minimal differences – the base is a little longer, the top a little narrower, but it’s what they are made of and how they are made that counts. Some believe that safety cones coming from China are of a lesser quality, so try and find out where your cones are coming from and whether they will stand up to what you need them for.
Traffic Barrels, and all other lingo
When I first learned about the traffic safety industry, I couldn’t figure out what those orange barrels on the side of the highway were called. Now, I am still confused about what they are called, but this post is to show you the common names given to these orange barrels. Traffic barrels may be the first thing that comes to my mind when I think of these orange barrels now, but there are other names.
Some people call them orange drums, construction drums, construction barrels, traffic drums, superdome drums, and more. It’s hard to identify which is the correct term, but a search on Google for traffic drum gives almost two million results, which all seem to be on target. Then again, a search for traffic drum brings up over eight million results, so who knows.