Archive for April, 2010
This post is to give people who are having trouble with their barricade lights some help. I have gotten calls from customers who don’t know how to turn on their barricade lights. It depends on the brand, but usually there is a small hole in the center of (or side of) the light where you can poke a pin or something in to turn it from on to steady burn to off.
Another issue some people have is with solar barricade lights. Sometimes it can be tricky to know if they have a charge or not, so always be sure to keep them out in good sunlight for a day or so if you suspect that it is broken. This ensures that they either are or are not broken, because some brands of solar barricade lights will lose their charge over time if stored somewhere.
Yellow and Orange Traffic Barrels
You most likely see yellow or orange traffic barrels everyday if you are a commuter. You are probably seeing more than you would like now, considering it is construction season. But what is the different between the orange and yellow traffic barrels?
Yellow traffic barrels are commonly seen at the fork that turns off into an exit, protecting drivers from hitting the concrete median. Orange traffic barrels usually are lined up on the side of the road to prevent cars from going into construction areas.
Options on Traffic Barricades
There are many options when buying traffic barricades, such as the reflective tape, size of the barricade, what it’s made out of, and the number of panels. Reflective tape can be either Engineer Grade, Diamond Grade, or Hi Intensity. The size of the barricade will depend on whether you want a type 1, type 2, or type 3 barricade.
The type 3 barricade is usually around 8 feet wide, the type 1 and type 2 barricades are around 3 feet wide. The barricades are commonly made out of plywood with steel legs or plastic. The type of reflective tape depends on the job you are using it for.
What are Delineator Posts
Delineator posts are commonly seen on the side of the road or highway. They are a way of channelizing traffic and letting it know where to go and where not to go. They are good to use if you are trying to block traffic from going a certain way.
There are different types of delineators, such as t top which is basically just a handle at the top so that you can easily transport them from one place to anther. The common height for delineators is 42″ but they can be found in lower sizes. Most delineators have bases that are used with them, but you have to pay extra for them.
Reflective Tape
Many people may not know what reflective tape is exactly, and that is what this post is for. Reflective tape is used in many different applications, but I am most familiar with how it is used in the construction industry. It can be found on traffic cones, reflective safety vests, and more.
The idea is that light reflects off the tape and makes it easier for pedestrians to see whatever the tape is on. Traffic barrels on the side of the highway, traffic cones, traffic barricades, these all commonly have reflective tape. Remember that there is also different ‘grades’ of reflective tape, such as HI intensity, Diamond Grade, and Engineer Grade.
Safety Cones Everywhere
Chances are if you are a commuter (either to work or to school) you are dealing with a lot of construction right now on the roads. This also means you probably see safety cones everywhere. On the side of the road, in the middle of the road to direct traffic, and possibly in other places.
Safety cones may seem like the last thing you want to think about after getting home from work, but they can be very beneficial when it comes to improving our roadways. Without these traffic safety products, our roads wouldn’t be as safe.
Construction Season Means Traffic Barrels
With spring comes construction season, and with construction season is long lines of traffic because of road construction. Miles upon miles of orange traffic barrels, safety cones and blinking lights. But don’t get mad, just think about how much better the roads will be once it’s all over!
Well, that may not be true, but realize that the constant upkeep of our roads is good for our safety. If we didn’t have a government that was constantly doing construction in order to keep us safe, well, we wouldn’t be safe. So next time you pass that traffic barrel and come to a complete stop, try to be a little more positive!
Instant Traffic Info
I used to think that arrow boards were rather unnecessary. That was until I was coming home last weekend only to find that the exit to my house was closed for construction. Luckily, there were several arrow message boards set up prior to where I was supposed to get off.
Each arrow board had a snippet of information that told drivers where roads were closed and which alternate routes were optimal. This advanced warning allowed me to get off several exits early and take a shortcut that saved me at least twenty minutes. Although I still think that arrow boards are often overused, I now see their pragmatic qualities.
Solar Barricade Lights Worth the Money?
A lot of people have asked the question - is it worth the money to buy solar powered versus battery powered barricade lights? Well, the answer is that it depends. Generally, if you plan on using your lights for many projects then solar is the way to go.
The amount of money spent after batteries can amount to the difference in cost between a solar powered barricade light and a battery powered one. But, if you are just using the lights for one month and then may not use them again for 5 years, it may be OK to purchase the cheaper ones.
Traffic Barricades Offer Safety
Whether you are driving on the interstate highway or through a small village town, traffic barricades are usually in sight. These barricades offer protection from a variety of things. They are sometimes used to block off construction projects, letting you know you should not enter that area.
Other times they are for blocking entire roads. I have even seen them used at events that require parking lots. The type 3 barricades are most common for blocking off roads, while the type 1 barricades are common for parking lots and the type 2 barricades are used all over.