Posts Tagged ‘channelizer’
Which Traffic Drum to Choose
How do you know which traffic drum to choose when looking at all the options online? The simple answer is, it depends on the requirements that are (usually) given to you for the job. Options include reflective tape, base weight, density of plastic, and sometimes the color of the drum.
Reflective tape can either be white or orange, and the grade of the tape can be Engineer Grade, Diamond Grade, or Hi Intensity Grade. Base weight can vary depending on the vendor, but usually ranges from 10-40lbs in general. Density of the plastic can be low or high density and color can be requested to be changed but usually needs quantities around 500 or more.
Traffic Drums mean Traffic Season
You may be a commuter to work, and get frustrated by the immense amount of construction which seems to add an extra hour to your commute on the worst possible days. You most likely see a lot of traffic drums (those orange traffic barrels on the side of the road) next to you on the way. Don’t get frustrated, these are only there for your safety.
Traffic drums, traffic barrels, and channelizers are all designed to provide safety for us drivers. A lot of times they are the barrier between construction and the road we are supposed to be driving on. Other times they are there to direct us as to where to go, either way, when you see them don’t get angry, but be thankful that our government provides such safety equipment.
Traffic Drums – Local or Online?
Is it better to buy traffic drums locally or online? Well, this can be a hard question to answer because traffic drums are very expensive to ship, especially when you start to pile on the 30 lb bases for a traffic drum in your shipment. But it’s not just about shipping, traffic drums are usually marked up very high when you buy locally versus online.
An online search will most likely let you pick up drums for way below the cost of going to your local traffic safety store (if you have one). One suggestion is the buy the drums themselves online, and then buy the bases locally, so that you aren’t eating such a high shipping cost.
Options on Traffic Barrels
First off, let me explain what traffic barrels are. Traffic barrels can often be found at the edge of a highway during construction (orange traffic barrels) or near exit ramps (yellow sand traffic barrels). The most common traffic barrels have reflective tape on them with barricade lights on top.
Reflective sheeting is an option and it can come in Engineer Grade, HI Intensity Grade, or Diamond Grade. Barrels are commonly around 42 inches tall. Bases are also an option, with the weights varying depending on your requirements.
Channelizer Monsters
What do a channelizer and a monster have in common? An NC state student used traffic barrels to create a roadside monster. Although he was seen as a local celebrity for his creative ability, the police didn’t find it as funny. He was charged with a misdemeanor for stealing channelizers.
Stealing traffic safety equipment is a common activity on college campuses, but many don’t realize the potential trouble they could get in, especially when owned by the state. Of course the level of punishment depends on the area, but it is safe to say many don’t realize how large the punishment can be.