Always study the area

One of the big downsides of many urban areas is they are unable to sustain modern traffic levels. They date back to periods when there were far fewer cars on the road and some of the massive trucks were a dream for the future. So, it can cause huge problems today. The right traffic control measures can help, but it is important to study the area before doing anything. We want to take a closer look at this here to see why it is so crucial.

What are you dealing with?

The thing to keep in mind is any change to roads can cause a domino effect. In some cases it can lead to some serious problems, including congestion and more accidents. So, you can't just rush into changes.

What you need to do is a comprehensive study of the area. Look at the current road layout, ensuring you understand how everything comes together. Pay particular attention to junctions because there is always the potential for more issues where streams of traffic intersect. Are there any bottlenecks?

Beyond the layout, you need to look at traffic patterns. The current road network might work perfectly fine 90% of the time. However, what happens in the periods where it gets excessively busy? Does it cause congestion and traffic flow problems? If so, you likely need changes or new traffic control measures.

It also helps massively to think ahead. As we said above, many urban areas are struggling with traffic because of short-sightedness when they were developed. A better option is to study the area and consider what could happen in the future. Is there land that could become new developments of housing, business parks, industrial estates, or other things?

Decide your strategy

After studying the area you can consider the most effective strategy for traffic. This should include things like where to use control measures such as lights. It will also show where you need safety infrastructure like barriers and bollards. Plus, the info will give an idea of where you need to place signage to inform road users.

Ultimately, safe, efficient traffic flows should be the goal. Consider the situation on all local roads so you don't cause congestion in one area to help another.

Browse our traffic control products

Barrier Mart is a company that can help with controlling traffic in different settings. We have a selection of useful products, including barriers, bollards, speed bumps, and more. They can work together to keep roads, car parks, and other locations safer.

We can work with clients to achieve their traffic control goals. So, browse today or contact us for advice.