Bus stop warning system 'reduces traffic speed'

Date: 27/4/2010

A new system designed to highlight when children are boarding or leaving school buses has proved effective in reducing traffic speed, new research claims.

Pilot trials of the system in Scotland found that when the interactive bus stops issued a warning signal to highlight that children were in the vicinity, a typical driver speed reduction of 13 per cent from 53 mph to 45 mph was recorded.

The bus stops communicate with a radio tag placed in a child's school bag. When a tag is in the vicinity of the stop, warning lights on the bus stops flash, warning drivers that children are in the area - possibly stepping out from behind a bus.

The system was developed in Sweden and is in use in a number of locations across that country already.

As the Scottish trials have proved to be effective, the technology could be rolled out there too.

Leon Nilsson, COO of Amparo Solutions, providers of the system, said: "The introduction of a clear and simple safety measure by the local road authority demonstrates a positive action and generates goodwill rather than resentment from other road users."

As well being used to create safer bus stops, the SeeMe technology can also be used at road crossings.