GB2352467A - Warning device - Google Patents

Abstract

A device comprising one or more reservoirs containing marking material(s), which can be deposited on to the road surface by controlled means to form a temporary mark(s) (8). The temporary mark(s) are used to warn approaching vehicles of a slow moving road user ahead. Discharge of the marking material(s) is effected either by a propellant, a compressed gas, a pump or pumps, mechanical or manual means. The form, colour, constituents and the number and spacing of the mark(s) can be varied. The marks may contain constituents that enhance conspicuity. The device may form part of a vehicle or be affixed to or, carried by a vehicle.

Description

2352467 WARNING DEVICE FOR SLOW MOVING ROAD USERS.

This invention relates to a device which provides for advance warning to be given to drivers of motor vehicles approaching slow moving road users from the rear by alerting them to the potential for a slow moving hazard on the road ahead.

The current emphasis on environmental sustainability has led to significant efforts to encourage greater use of bicycles and other nonmotorised means of transport. Walking is also encouraged. In many areas due to a lack of cycleways and footways, cyclists and pedestrians are required to use the public roads to complete their journeys.

Motorised scooters for use by disabled persons may also use the public roads. Horses may be ridden and livestock may be driven on foot along public roads, particularly in rural areas.

Many road maintenance operations involve the use of slow moving vehicles which obstruct the carriageway, for example during verge cutting, renewal of permanent road markings and for drain cleaning operations.

All of the above and similar types of road users create the potential for hazard arising from the very great differential between the speed of the slow moving road user and the speed of a motor vehicle approaching from the rear. This hazard can be exacerbated on narrow winding lanes with poor forward visibility, where the driver of a motor vehicle approaching from the rear may have insufficient advance warning of the presence of the slow moving road user to enable appropriate avoiding action to be taken.

This applies particularly in the case of cyclists where current policies to promote cycling as a means of transport have had limited success since many existing and potential cyclists are deterred from using cycles on the public road due to the perceived and real risk of injury or damage arising from the poor standard of use of motor vehicles, and particularly from the high traffic densities and speeds..

In the United Kingdom around 6000 cyclists are injured in serious accidents every year. In general, where cycling is adopted as a means of transport to work, this method carries a greater risk than the same journey by car. A major factor in accidents involving cyclists is the conflict between cycles and motor vehicles.

Whilst highway and transport authorities are attempting to reduce the conflict between motorised transport and cyclists by constructing segregated cycleway routes, it is often necessary for cyclists to use the public road system to gain access to, or to connect with these cycle routes.

To improve safety and encourage greater use of bicycles it is therefore essential to reduce or eliminate the risks associated with their use on the public road. Existing warning devices which have been developed to address this hazard include flags, banners, paddles and the like. These devices are generally fixed to the rear of the cycle and serve to emphasise the presence of the cycle rather than provide advance warning to drivers of approaching vehicles, since they are carried along by the cycle and are normally only visible once the cycle itself is in view.

It is therefore one objective of this invention to provide slow moving road users such as cyclists with the means to give advance warning of their presence on the road ahead to drivers of motor vehicles approaching from the rear by means of temporary markings placed on the road surface. The markings are designed to be visible for a limited period so that they are in evidence only while the slow moving road user is in the immediate vicinity, thereby alerting approaching drivers to the potential hazard immediately ahead. This will allow approaching drivers to better anticipate the presence of the slow moving road user and reduce speed or prepare for avoiding action as appropriate, thereby reducing the risk of accident or injury.

Accordingly this invention provides a warning device comprising one or more reservoirs containing marking material or materials, said marking material or materials being releasable by controlled means onto the road surface to form a temporary mark or marks.

I A specific embodiment of the invention in a form applicable to cycles will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: - FIGURE I shows a side view of a cycle incorporating the device.

FIGURE 2 shows a rear view of a cycle and temporary marking as viewed by the driver of a motor vehicle approaching from the rear.

FIGURE 3 shows a plan view of the system in use.

As shown in Figure I the device comprises a replaceable pressurised reservoir I containing marking material and propellant. The marking material is formulated using known science and technology so as to have opaque qualities on initial discharge onto the road surface, such properties subsequently changing over a short period of time with the effect that any residual marking material remaining on the road surface is rendered not readily visible to the naked eye. For example foamed detergent and water will produce this effect. A typical requirement would be that the mark would remain visible for a period of time generally related to the application interval and the speed of the cycle such that the markings would remain visible for a distance measured back from the cycle at least equal to the appropriate stopping sight distance applicable to a vehicle approaching from the rear.

The outlet from reservoir I connects with a duct 2 terminating in a nozzle 3. Discharge from nozzle 3 is controlled by an electrically operated valve 4. Operation of valve 4 is effected by controlled means via an electronic processing unit 5 which is co-existent with selector switch 6 mounted on the cycle so as to be operable by the rider. An electronic revolution meter 7 measures the number of revolutions of a cycle wheel. The respective components hereinbefore described are interconnected as necessary by electrical circuitry (not shown) and to an electrical power source (for example a battery, not shown).

The interval between successive openings of valve 4 is adjustable by means of the selector switch 6 and electronic processing unit S. Selector switch 6 provides for the valve opening interval to correspond with a predetermined distance travelled by the bicycle. Selector switch 6 provides for selection to be made from a range of distances. It also provides an 'OFF' mode and a manual over-ride provision on every setting.

The electronic processing unit 5 is programmable so as to determine speed and distance travelled ftorn measurements of wheel diameter and number of revolutions recorded. The unit is designed to transmit a signal to valve 4 such that a measured quantity of marking material is discharged from nozzle 3 onto the road surface at intervals corresponding with the distance travelled by the bicycle as selected on selector switch 6. The unit also provides an over-ride facility such that valve 4 may be operated on demand via the over-ride setting on selector switch 6.

A typical arrangement of the temporary marking on the road surface in relation to the cycle is shown at 8 in Figure 2.

Operation of the device is now described by reference to Figure 3 in which a cyclist 'C' is shown proceeding along a road in the direction shown by the arrow, having entered the road from the cycleway at 'B'. A motor vehicle approaching the cyclist from the rear in the direction shown by the arrow is illustrated at two stages of its approach: firstly at position 'V I' and a short time later at position 'V2'.

On the cycleway where there is little or no risk of collision with motor vehicles the cyclist selects the 'OFF' mode on selector switch 6. On this setting no marking material is discharged from nozzle 3. On entering the road at '13' the cyclist selects a setting of 150 metres; on selector switch 6 to suit the road layout which is straight with good visibility. Temporary markings are made on the road surface at M I, M2 and M3. On entering the twisting road alignment with poor visibility the cyclist selects a setting of 50 metres on selector switch 6. Temporary markings are made on the road surface at M4 to M10.

2 As the cyclist approaches position 'C' the approaching vehicle is at 'Vl'. Due to the passage of time, temporary markings at MI to M5 are no longer visible to the driver of the motor vehicle who is therefore not presented with inappropriate or misleading information since the cycle is sufficiently far ahead such that it is not an immediate or potential hazard at that stage. The approaching vehicle gains ground on the cycle so that when the cycle is at 'C' the vehicle is at 'V2'. At this stage temporary markings at M6 to MI 0 are still visible and the driver of the motor vehicle is therefore able to anticipate that the cycle is in the immediate vicinity and is likely to be encountered a short distance ahead. As a consequence the driver is able to prepare for the necessary avoiding action.

The device as described can incorporate the following features: - Enhanced conspicuity of the temporary markings can be achieved by providing for frothing or foaming of the marking material, or by the application of retro-reflective, luminous or fluorescent material, by providing for vapourisation of the material, or for providing for multiple marks at each application interval. Provision can be made within the electronic processing unit for the form of the temporary marking to be adjustable to suit the speed of the cycle, or for the adjustment of the marking or its composition to suit weather or traffic conditions. Marking materials may be provided in different colours.

In the above embodiment an alternative means of operation may be achieved by providing for estimated vehicle approach speeds to be selected by the cyclist on selector switch 6 (for example 40mph, 60mph, 80mph). Programming of the electronic processing unit 5 provides for temporary markings to be placed on the road surface at intervals automatically determined from a calculation based on the visible life of the temporary mark (adjusted for climatic and other factors), the speed of the cycle, and the appropriate stopping sight distance applicable to the speed selected for vehicles approaching from the rear.

Further embodiments of the device may take the form of a hand held staff or rod suitable for use by pedestrians with the marking material released either manually or by lapsed time control.

A ftuther embodiment of the device may take the form of equipment incorporated on a highway maintenance vehicle. In addition to foamed detergents and the like, suitable marking materials for this application may include dry powders such as chalk dust, sand, or granulated biodegradable foams or similar materials or combinations thereof which would be dissipated by the action of wind and traffic.

According to another aspect of the invention the temporary marking may be formed by the mixing of constituent materials prior to or on the road surface, with discharge being effected by either compressed gas or by means of a compressor, fluid pump, or by gravity. Provision may be made also for the discharge interval to be controlled by other than electronic means, for example by mechanical means using gears or pulleys or by pneumatic or hydraulic means.

It is accepted that different compositions and/or application rates or intervals may be required for the temporary markings to suit climatic conditions and/or each specific application since for example the time taken for a pedestrian to cover a distance equal to the stopping sight distance of an approaching vehicle will be far greater than the time taken by a cyclist to cover the same distance. The visible fife of each mark and the spacing between marks may therefore need to be adjusted to suit.

It will be appreciated that other variations and modifications in the device may be made- 3

Claims (18)

1. A warning device comprising one or more reservoirs containing marking material or materials, said marking material or materials being releasable by controlled means onto the road surface to form a temporary mark or marks.

2. A device as in Claim I wherein the constituent materials for the temporary mark or marks are stored in separate reservoirs.

3. A device as in Claim I or Claim 2 wherein the discharge of marking materials is effected by a propellant.

4. A device as in Claim I or Claim 2 wherein the discharge of marking materials is effected by compressed gas.

5. A device as in Claim I or Claim 2 wherein the discharge of marking materials is effected by a PUMP or PUMPS-

6. A device as in Claim I or Claim 2 wherein the discharge of marking materials is effected by mechanical means.

7. A device as in any of the preceding Claims wherein said temporary mark or marks have properties such that each respective mark or part thereof remains visible to the naked eye for a period of time which is generally limited to that which provides drivers of motor vehicles approaching the means of application of the mark from the rear with sufficient advance warning of the immediate presence of a slow moving hazard on the road ahead to enable such drivers to take appropriate preemptive action to reduce or eliminate the risk of accident or injury.

8. A device as in Claim 7 wherein the discharge is controlled by electrical means.

9. A device as in Claim 7 wherein the discharge is controlled by manual means.

10. A device as in Claim 7 wherein the discharge is controlled by mechanical means.

11. A device as in Claim 7 wherein the discharge is controlled by pneumatic means.

12. A device as in any of the preceding Claims wherein the form of the mark or marks may be varied.

13. A device as in any of the preceding Claims wherein the constituent materials comprising the mark or marks may be varied.

14. A device as in any of the preceding Claims wherein the number and spacing of the mark or marks may be varied.

15. A device as in any of the preceding Claims wherein the colour of the mark or marks may be varied.

16. A device as in any of the preceding Claims wherein the mark or marks may contain constituent materials which enhance conspicuity.

17. A device as in any of the preceding Claims wherein the device is carried by or affixed to or forming part of a slow moving road user, bicycle or vehicle.

18. A warning device substantially as described herein with reference to Figures I to 3 of the accompanying drawing.

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